Jonbon denied in Celebration Chase but crowned Racing Post Jumps Horse of the Year after public vote

Jonbon may have failed to land the Celebration Chase on Saturday but he still walked away from Sandown with an award after he was crowned the Racing Post Jumps Horse of the Year for the 2024-25 season following a public vote.

The Nicky Henderson-trained nine-year-old has dazzled this season as the dominant force in the two-mile chasing division despite being pipped on his final start in Saturday's Grade 1 chase by Il Etait Temps. 

His season kicked off with a stylish performance in Cheltenham's Shloer Chase before he continued his supremacy at Sandown with a breathtaking performance in the Tingle Creek in December.

The following month he took on Energumene in the Clarence House at Ascot and proved too good when scoring by six and a half lengths under Nico de Boinville.

JP McManus receives the Horse Of The Year award for Jonbon from Lee Mottershead at SandownCredit: Edward Whitaker

He was denied in March by Marine Nationale at the Cheltenham Festival, when a knock from the tape at the start and a blunder at the top of the hill hindered his bid for a first festival success. He still bravely battled to take second, maintaining his run of never finishing outside the first two.

Jonbon returned to winning ways when he proved too good for his three opponents in the Melling Chase at Aintree before finishing his season in the Celebration Chase, when Mark Walsh replaced the injured De Boinville to finish second. 

Jonbon won the prize with 37 per cent of the 1,176 votes cast by Racing Post readers. Lossiemouth, the only mare to be nominated, finished second in the standings with 20 per cent of the votes, while field was completed by Inothewayurthinkin, Nick Rockett and Galopin Des Champs.

Read more:

Sean Bowen reveals aim to ride 200 winners next season after becoming champion jockey for the first time 

Il Etait Temps shocks Jonbon to put Willie Mullins on the brink of title win 

Ladbrokes settle stable lad's six-figure bet after discussions with IHRB 

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