Much-vaunted and unbeaten Jonbon seeks to win over the betting public at Ascot

Alert, attacking, perhaps even a little cocky, that's how Jonbon seemed when he made his much-anticipated hurdles debut last month, coasting clear of his rivals at Newbury. But can he do it on a bleak Friday at Ascot against Graded-quality rivals?

To say his reputation preceded him doesn't quite do justice to the situation. He's a brother to Douvan and cost JP McManus £570,000 last autumn, becoming the most expensive ex-pointer sold at public auction to that point. His reputation was marching in front of him waving a big flag, like one of those Victorian gents warning pedestrians of an approaching vehicle.

And yet punters and bookmakers have seemingly kept their cool about him. How else to explain the way he drifted before the Newbury race, from the early 2-7 to an SP of 10-11, with some folk surprised at being able to take odds against.