'He came out and screamed two miles' - Nicky Henderson considering Celebration Chase for star novice Jonbon

Star novice Jonbon is the most intriguing name among eight entries for the Grade 1 bet365 Celebration Chase at Sandown on Saturday. 

Should Nicky Henderson give Jonbon the green light he would be taking a first step into open company, and would be turning out just 14 days after landing the Grade 1 Maghull Novices' Chase at Aintree.

"He's in very good form and it's a good prize," said Henderson. "I wasn't sure what was around and although it's not a novice chase, it's a good prize. It's not definite he'll run and I'm going to monitor things for 48 hours but he could very easily go there."

Among potential opponents are the Henry de Bromhead-trained Captain Guinness – a fine second to Energumene in the Champion Chase – and Magic Daze, as well as dual Celebration Chase winner Greaneteen and Editeur Du Gite. 

Happy connections after Jonbon's win in the Maghull Novices' Chase at AintreeCredit: John Grossick Racing

Much of the punditry surrounding Jonbon in the wake of his Arkle defeat to El Fabiolo suggested a step up in trip might be in order. But the manner of his dismissal of inferior opposition at Aintree has rekindled Henderson's enthusiasm for staying at two miles.

"Everybody’s happy with him this morning and he appears to have taken his race at Aintree very well," said Henderson. "He didn’t have a hard race even though he did it in a very, very fast time. He was winging round there and he was jumping very well. 

"I was sort of thinking two and a half, but, all of a sudden, he came out and screamed two at you."

Among the other Graded entries revealed on Monday, Henderson has included Call Me Lord – something of a standing dish in the Select Hurdle, which could also feature Goshen and Thyme Hill – as well as Topham Chase runner-up Fantastic Lady, who could run in the Grade 2 Oaksey Chase.

"Call Me Lord is definitely an intended runner," said Henderson. "With Fantastic Lady, again it’s coming rather quicker than I intended but she was particularly well this morning and in great order. So I thought I’d pop her in there. 

"I just have to work out the weights and the penalties but she might not get in too badly with her seven pound allowance. We could easily look at it."

Scottish Grand National winner Kitty's Light could bid to double up at SandownCredit: John Grossick Racing

Scottish Grand National hero Kitty's Light is 4-1 favourite with Coral after appearing among the 24 horses to be confirmed at the six-day stage for the bet365 Gold Cup, in which Hewick remains the top weight. 

Shark Hanlon has declared the 2022 winner Hewick for Wednesday's Ladbrokes Punchestown Gold Cup but as a confirmed lover of fast ground, he also holds an entry for the bet365 Gold Cup and the Oaksey Chase on the Sandown card.

Celebration Chase entries

Captain Guinness Henry de Bromhead
Editeur Du Gite Gary Moore
First Flow Kim Bailey
Funambule Sivola Venetia Williams
Global Citizen Ben Pauling
Greaneteen Paul Nicholls
Jonbon Nicky Henderson
Magic Daze Henry de Bromhead

Read more . . .

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Confirmed runners and riders for the Punchestown Gold Cup and Wednesday's two other Grade 1s 

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