By Callum Close
Jonbon has won nine grade ones and will look to win his first Cheltenham Festival race to earn the 10th when the event gets underway in March.
The Seven Barrows star is the ante-post favourite for the Queen Mother Champion Chase, after defeating two-time winner Energumene by 6.5 lengths in the Clarence House Chase at Ascot on Saturday.
In a post-race interview with Sky Sports, trainer Nicky Henderson said: “He deserves one (Champion Chase).”
A win at the Festival has alluded Jonbon. His two previous runs resulted in defeat to illustrious stablemate Constitution Hill and Irish rival El Fabiolo, in the 2022 Supreme and 2023 Arkle respectively.
The nine-year-old is on a career-high rating of 170 and missed last year’s Festival when Henderson withdrew his horses after a disastrous first day.
Seven Barrows arrived at Cheltenham in poor form, which continued, as only one of their six representatives (Luccia) finished a race on day one.
Jonbon was subsequently withdrawn from the Champion Chase whilst others – including then Triumph Hurdle hope Sir Gino and the late Shishkin – were also withdrawn.
The yard will look forward to a change of fortune in the 2025 event, which will also see Constitution Hill make his return to the Gloucestershire track.
Nicky Henderson
“Our season so far has gone terrific and according to plan, but we were in the same position last year, so there is a long way to go yet,” said Henderson on Saturday.
Jonbon is currently 5/4 (Bet365) to win the 2025 Champion Chase.
He will likely face the reopposing El Fabiolo, who was pulled up in last year’s renewal despite being a short-priced favourite.
Owner JP McManus’ star has also beaten El Fabiolo twice in three races – most recently, at Sandown, in last year’s Celebration Chase.
Festival bragging rights belong to the Irish-trained horse, however, with one previous meeting at Cheltenham going in favour of El Fabiolo, in the 2023 Arkle Chase.
According to the bookmakers, other challengers include last year’s Arkle winner Gaelic Warrior (4/1) and Il Est Francais (10/1), winner of the 2023 Kauto Star and second in the 2024 King George VI.
A Jonbon victory would mean that the recent Irish domination of the race would end.
Since Politologue’s win in 2020 for Paul Nicholls, the last four winners have had Irish trainers.
It would also see the race go to Henderson for the first time since Altior won it in 2018 and 2019, consecutively.
Despite all the caveats of form and history, stable jockey Nico de Boinville confirmed Jonbon’s’ credentials when he said: “Jonbon is certainly a worthy favourite, he just needs to get there now.
“We all know what can happen, so fingers crossed he gets there sound and healthy.”
READ MORE: The Real Whacker to be kept fresh for Gold Cup bid at Cheltenham
