Jonbon now 11-8 favourite for Champion Chase at Cheltenham Festival after comfortable win over Energumene
WILL the last Jonbon doubter to leave please turn out the lights?
Nicky Henderson’s nine-year-old still had his sceptics heading to Ascot but produced a performance of authority as he swatted aside Energumene.
He might be getting long in the tooth, but Willie Mullins’ dual Champion Chase winner is still dangerous, as he showed when winning on his return from a massive lay-off at Cork.
But he was unable to go with Jonbon when he went through the gears at the top of the straight, and a majestic leap at the last sealed the deal in the Grade 1 Clarence House.
Hendo said: “He’s not the most straightforward horse, but he’s just a joy. What a performance.
“Nico said he was very fresh and nearly too on it. He was out and really up for it. He just wanted to do it and loves the game.
“It was a brave way to do it, but the right way. He’s a genuine two-miler and a top-class one at that.”
Jonbon has a glittering CV, with nine Grade 1 wins and over £1.1 million in the bank for his owner JP McManus. But there have been questions about the strength of the opposition he’s been beating up over the last few years and he has never really attracted much of a following.
He is clearly winning over hearts and minds now, judging by the reception he received as he returned to the winners’ enclosure from the hardy crowd who braved the cold at Ascot.
No doubt, a victory at the Cheltenham Festival will earn him true fan favourite status, and Nico de Boinville doesn’t think he’ll have a better chance than in this year’s Champion Chase.
He said: “He felt so well within himself today, I was trying to keep a lid on him more than anything else.
“He answered every call jumping-wise and was very quick with his feet. I’m so happy, he’s so consistent and the crowd have really warmed to him too.
“The one thing missing for him is a Festival win and he will definitely be a worthy favourite and the one to beat in March.”
The Clarence House had been an unlucky race for both of these top two-milers in recent years.
Jonbon was turned over as the 4-11 favourite when it was restaged at Cheltenham 12 months ago, while Energumene had been beaten in both his previous cracks.
So something had to give, and it was Jonbon who came out on top under an aggressive de Boinville ride which had more than a few shades of Tony McCoy in the McManus green and gold.
It also means that in big head-to-heads so far this winter, Hendo is 3-0 up against his old rival Willie.
He grinned: “Hopefully we have put Willie off coming over! He is a great trainer and a real good mate, but of course it’s lovely to win these big clashes.
“They are good for the sport and I will never shy away from having them. If you’ve got these high quality horses you’ve got to run them.”
And what a position Hendo finds himself in heading into the business end of the season.
Not only does he have Jonbon, who is now the 11-8 (from 9-4) jolly for the Champion Chase, but also three other Festival hotpots in Constitution Hill, Sir Gino and Lulamba.
The last-named might not have been a familiar name before yesterday but he is one to remember as he bolted up on his British debut at Ascot.
He is now 6-4 for the Triumph Hurdle having been 25-1 only a few weeks ago. Anyone who got on at fancy prices can start getting pretty excited.
Henderson said: “I thought we were facing a brick wall there, trying to give weight to some very classy horses, it looked an impossible task.
“But he is clearly very good. Nico said he jumped and travelled with pace, there was a lot to like about it.
“I try to downplay the hype because it just adds pressure and you are set up for a fall, but clearly the hype was right. He already has a run in France this year so I would say he would go straight to Cheltenham now.”
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