Constitution Hill and Jonbon among the jumping superstars returning this week

After the excitement of the Paddy Power Gold Cup at Cheltenham's November meeting, the jumps season steps up another notch with the first Grade 1 of the campaign in Britain this weekend. Before we can enjoy Saturday's Betfair Chase at Haydock, a number of stars are in contention to make their seasonal reappearance.

Jonbon

When and where?2.45 Warwick, Wednesday

Nicky Henderson’s Grade 1 winner makes his first appearance of the campaign in a 2m novice chase at Warwick on Wednesday.

Jonbon: set for his chasing debut on WednesdayCredit: Edward Whitaker

The JP McManus-owned gelding made a winning start for the Seven Barrows trainer in a Newbury bumper and his only defeat in his six starts under rules has come courtesy of stablemate Constitution Hill, who powered 22 lengths clear of him at the Cheltenham Festival.

The Supreme runner-up ended last season with a top-level success in the Top Novices' Hurdle at Aintree, and faces a stern test against Monmiral and West Cork on his chasing debut in a race that was won by Arkle hero Edwardstone 12 months ago.

Tornado Flyer

When and where? 2.53 Clonmel, Thursday

King George winner Tornado Flyer is on course for his first domestic start of the season in the Grade 2 Clonmel Oil Chase on Thursday.

Tornado Flyer: a shock winner of the King George last DecemberCredit: Mark Cranham

Tornado Flyer subsequently failed to reach the heights of his 28-1 King George victory last year, as he was pulled up in the Gold Cup at Cheltenham and finished down the field in the Punchestown Gold Cup in April and at Auteuil in May.

The Willie Mullins-trained nine-year-old could face five rivals including stablemates Blue Lord and Haut En Couleurs. He is a general 8-1 shot to repeat his King George success this year, with ante-post favourite and stablemate Allaho recently ruled out of the Boxing Day highlight, but a lot of it depends on how he runs this week.

L'Homme Presse

When and where? 2.05 Ascot, Saturday

Dual Grade 1 winner L’Homme Presse is set to begin his campaign in the Grade 2 1965 Chase at Ascot on Saturday.

L'Homme Presse: on the way to winning at the Cheltenham FestivalCredit: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos)

Venetia Williams’ seven-year-old demonstrated his ability as a top-class staying chaser last term when stepping up to 3m½f to win the Brown Advisory at Cheltenham. Ahoy Senor reversed the form in the Mildmay Novices' Chase at Aintree in April as L’Homme Presse finished 18 lengths behind in third.

Before that defeat, he had won all five of his races over fences in scintillating fashion and connections will be hoping for another winning seasonal debut this time around.

A Plus Tard

When and where? 3.00 Haydock, Saturday

Gold Cup hero A Plus Tard is one of five entered in Saturday’s Betfair Chase at Haydock — the first Grade 1 of the British jumps season.

A Plus Tard: 22-length winner of last year's Betfair Chase at HaydockCredit: John Grossick (racingpost.com/photos)

Owned by Cheveley Park Stud, A Plus Tard was a beaten favourite in the Savills Chase, but made handsome amends when landing the feature of the Cheltenham Festival in March by an impressive 15 lengths.

Having landed this £200,000 contest last year, the Henry de Bromhead-trained eight-year-old is 2-5 with the race's sponsor to repeat the feat.

Protektorat

When and where? 3.00 Haydock, Saturday

The Dan Skelton-trained seven-year-old is likely to be A Plus Tard’s main rival in the Betfair Chase.

Protektorat: a contender for the Betfair Chase on SaturdayCredit: John Grossick (racingpost.com/photos)

Protektorat began last season by narrowly missing out in the Paddy Power Gold Cup, but made up for it when blowing the field apart and finishing 25 lengths clear of veteran Native River when stepping up in trip in the Grade 2 Many Clouds Chase at Aintree.

Betfair Chase specialist Bristol De Mai, recent Badger Beer winner Frodon and Eldorado Allen complete the five-runner line-up, but Protektorat showed enough potential when third in last season’s Gold Cup to be a serious contender on Saturday.

Constitution Hill

When and where? 2.40 Ascot, Saturday

Constitution Hill prepares to make his seasonal debut in Saturday’s Coral Hurdle at Ascot, with the Berkshire venue favoured over a tilt at the Grade 1 Fighting Fifth Hurdle at Newcastle the following weekend.

Constitution Hill: pictured with Nico de Boinville after Cheltenham successCredit: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos)

The Michael Buckley-owned five-year-old made a phenomenal statement during last season’s Supreme at Cheltenham, and the unbeaten hurdler is expected to be one of the leading lights of the jumping sphere for years to come.

Constitution Hill’s demolition job in the Grade 1 Tolworth Hurdle at Sandown in January was backed up by his exploits at the festival in March, and a mouthwatering clash with Honeysuckle at the Champion Hurdle is on everyone’s mind, so preparations need to start well at Ascot on Saturday, before which Henderson remains on weather watch.

Edwardstone

When and where?3.15 Ascot, Saturday

It’s a case of let’s try again for Alan King’s Edwardstone, who holds an entry in the Hurst Park Handicap Chase at Ascot on Saturday.

Edwardstone: on course to reappear on SaturdayCredit: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos)

There was disappointment on Sunday when the 2022 Arkle hero was withdrawn from the Shloer Chase because of unsuitable ground, denying a potentially informative clash with Nube Negra.

Edwardstone’s five-race winning streak over fences came to an end in his final race last term when he was beaten by the Willie Mullins-trained Gentleman De Mee in the Maghull Novices' Chase at Aintree.

The eight-year-old could step into handicap company for the first time over fences off a mark of 161, with only Champion Chase runner-up Funambule Sivola rated higher among the 13 entries.

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