Festival fancies Jonbon and Bob Olinger among entries for Ascot's card on Friday

Jonbon and Bob Olinger, ante-post favourites for Grade 1s at the Cheltenham Festival, could add a touch of class to Ascot's fixture on Friday after appearing among the entries.

Trained by Nicky Henderson for JP McManus, Jonbon heads the betting for the Sky Bet Supreme Novices' Hurdle at a general 3-1 after a dazzling debut over hurdles at Newbury recently.

He is among eight entries for the Grade 2 Howden Kennel Gate Novices' Hurdle, which was won by the smart My Drogo 12 months ago.

It is a race Henderson has won four times in the last ten years through Molotof (2011), L'Ami Serge (2014), Claimantakinforgan (2015) and Angels Breath (2018).

A brother to dual-festival hero Douvan, Jonbon was a point-to-point winner who then changed hands for big money before joining Henderson, who holds him in the highest regard.

Henry de Bromhead feels the same about Bob Olinger, who won the Ballymore Novices' Hurdle at Cheltenham in the spring and is the 7-4 market leader for the Turners Novices' Chase, which used to be known as the Marsh.

Bob Olinger: exciting chasing prospectCredit: Michael Steele (Getty Images)

He made a pleasing debut over fences at Gowran Park last month and is one of six in Ascot's Grade 2 Howden Noel Novices' Chase.

The 2m3f contest also has a decent roll of honour and was won in 2012 by the Henderson-trained Simonsig, who went on to Arkle glory at Cheltenham the following spring.

The ground at Ascot, which stages the Grade 1 Howden Long Walk Hurdle next weekend, was on Saturday described as soft and a mainly dry week is forecast with the occasional shower.

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