Next stop Supreme? Unbeaten Jonbon pushed out to 4-1 after Haydock win

Saturday: Haydock

When you're a £570,000 brother of Douvan racing in the colours of JP McManus, your every move will be scrutinised.

Jonbon might not have impressed everyone as he extended his unbeaten record under rules to four in this trial for the Sky Bet Supreme Novices' Hurdle in March, but he navigated his way through a rough race to score comfortably enough at the line.

Paddy Power pushed out his Supreme odds to 4-1 from 7-2, although the sponsors left him unchanged at 3-1, after the 2-5 favourite failed to win as easily as his odds suggested.

It was workmanlike and in stark contrast to Nicky Henderson-trained stablemate Constitution Hill's Tolworth Hurdle romp, but Aidan Coleman was accentuating the positives after Jonbon battled his way to victory, giving 5lb to all his rivals.

"It's a sharp two miles round here and the ground is tacky, and it was very hard work," he said. "He went away and pulled up in the last half furlong, which happens here at Haydock. On that ground, you're not going to see a horse win on the bridle today.

"In his last two races, he tipped away in front and had it easy but today was a much more end-to-end gallop and we really quickened turning in."

Click here to watch Jonbon's latest success

Through no fault of his own, Jonbon had a coming together with Donny Boy at the third-last and had to be switched by Coleman.

"It wasn't ideal as it was at the fastest point of the race and every horse quickens at that bit. He found a lovely stride but the horse missed it and went right and we landed in the back of him," said the jockey.

Aidan Coleman: 'He's so straightforward and we can stop talking about him being precocious because he's not'Credit: Edward Whitaker

"Everything went well apart from that and he's got another win under his belt and we're very happy. He's so straightforward and we can stop talking about him being precocious because he's not. He's a lovely ride and he's beat a good field."

Jonbon showed a tendency to lug left at times, but Coleman said: "He got a bit lonely up in the straight, I brought him wide down the back straight and he jumped good and straight. People look for stories with him all the time."

Henderson was happy with his performance and said: "I thought that was good. It was a different test today, a speed track, very soft ground.

"They quickened once in the straight and you thought 'he's got something to do here' but he got there nicely. Then he quickened again and I like horses that can quicken twice. He's gone right away at the end. I'd say 'job done'."

Asked about the Cheltenham clash with Constitution Hill, he said: "At the moment they both look like Supreme horses to me."

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