'He's schooled very well' - but how will high-class Jonbon fare on chase debut?

Wednesday: 2.45 Warwick
Highflyer Bloodstock Novices' Chase | 2m54y | 4yo+ | RTV

It usually takes an exciting performance from a novice for them to assume ante-post favouritism at the Cheltenham Festival, but such is the anticipation around Jonbon’s chasing debut at Warwick on Wednesday he has surged to the head of the Arkle market.

Given the standard of opposition in the Highflyer Bloodstock Novices’ Chase (2.45) – Monmiral is a Grade 1-winning hurdler who lined up in last year’s Fighting Fifth with an official rating of 153, 1lb higher than Jonbon finished last season – a victory would almost certainly be the strongest form shown by a novice at two miles.

Add to that trainer Nicky Henderson's fearsome record in the Arkle, a race he has won seven times and which is now less than four months away, and perhaps it is less surprising bookmakers are already taking evasive action.

Henderson said: "Everything's gone great, we're getting into the A team now and things get a bit jittery. He's schooled very well and we've always been looking forward to this and seeing if there's natural progression. He's been very good at home.

"It will be a funny race with only three runners, but they're three high-class horses so it could be a cat-and-mouse game, which we don't really want. We'd like a truly run race, but we'll see what pans out."

Paul Nicholls had intended to run Monmiral at Cheltenham in the two-mile Grade 2 won by Banbridge, but unseasonably fast ground caused him to reroute.

Monmiral: high-class hurdler should be suited by recent rainCredit: John Grossick (racingpost.com/photos)

He said: "I'm pleased we've had all this rain as we weren't keen on running him on the ground, as quick as it was, at Cheltenham at the weekend. It should be on the slow side, which will suit him, it's a good race but we've all got to start somewhere and it's a nice starting point.

"Last year we thought he wanted two and a half, but he showed so much speed in his races two is a good starting point. He's a Grade 1-winning juvenile, he was the best in Britain two years ago, ran a good race behind Epatante at Aintree and we're hopeful over fences you'll see the best of him.

"We'll know where we stand a bit more afterwards. Jonbon is Arkle favourite at the moment, he's a good horse, so it's an interesting race. There's not much between them on ratings so it'll all come down to their jumping. I've been very happy with him, he schooled great this morning and he's just got to do it on the track."

Dan Skelton's West Cork is no forlorn hope. He was fourth in the Martin Pipe and second in last season's Scottish Champion Hurdle, reaching a peak official rating of 144 over hurdles, and unlike either of his rivals he already has a run over fences under his belt when chasing home Monmiral's stablemate Stage Star over course and distance.

Skelton said: "It's a pretty warm race and we know what we're taking on, but he's got a run under his belt at the track and two miles suits him better than two and a half.

"He got beaten by Stage Star and is taking on two other Graded winners here. They could be two special chasers, but I think there are three very nice horses in the race and we've got to get some experience into these novice chasers. There's not enough of these races so I'm surprised there aren't more runners."

The Front Runner is our latest email newsletter available exclusively to Members' Club Ultimate subscribers. Chris Cook, a four-time Racing Reporter of the Year award winner, provides his take on the day's biggest stories and tips for the upcoming racing every morning from Monday to Friday. Not a Members' Club Ultimate subscriber? Click here to join today and also receive our Ultimate Daily emails plus our full range of fantastic website and newspaper content