'I've not got a better contender' - Henderson to point exciting Jonbon at Arkle

Nicky Henderson's sublime CV is decorated with an unmatched seven Arkles and Sherlock Holmes is not required to detect which Seven Barrows resident might be his leading hope this term.

"I don't think I've a better candidate," he said of Supreme Novices' Hurdle runner-up , who followed up in a Grade 1 at Aintree's Grand National meeting.

"Without Constitution Hill he'd have been a good Supreme winner, but he backed it up at Aintree. That was a good performance and he's strengthened up enormously too."

Prominent in the betting at 5-1 for the Sporting Life Arkle, Jonbon is among a plethora of promising sorts for fences.

Pentland Hills: defied a long layoff to win on the Flat at Haydock last week and could go chasingCredit: John Grossick (racingpost.com/photos)

" is one to look forward to," said Henderson. "As is , and comes into the staying bracket.

"I'll be disappointed if doesn't shine, while , , and are also fine prospects.

" is another to note and should be high class, though he's had issues and been off since last year's festival. athmacknee is actually a novice over hurdles, but could switch to fences too."

A hurdle outing before his chasing debut is planned for , and could follow that path.

He had been off since the 2020 Champion Hurdle but won on the Flat at Haydock on Friday.

Henderson said: "He's rated 150 over hurdles and was 69 on the Flat and they say the gap is meant to be 40, so, if that theory is correct, he had 41lb in hand on Friday!

"We'd been waiting on the ground, but his biggest weapon is his jumping — he's brilliant — so he'll go chasing at some stage."

Read more from Seven Barrows . . .

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Trip mulled for Epatante after 'great season' and Constitution Hill emergence

'Firestep could be a top dog but there are more' – Henderson on his youngsters

Henderson set for Moore team up on 'considerably improved' Cesarewitch favourite

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