Jonbon puts unbeaten record away from Cheltenham on the line in bid for Celebration Chase hat-trick

History is already licking the nib of its pen, ready to commit Jonbon to its pages as one of the best two-mile chasers never to win the Champion Chase.

We are 11 months, maybe even 23 months, from knowing if that is premature. The assumption now is that Jonbon does not handle Cheltenham. The more specific answer is that Cheltenham's undulations tend to throw him off his rhythm in a way that Aintree, Ascot and Sandown do not.

Rhythm is the key to Jonbon's success, and not just at the fences. The debate over his ideal trip has been settled in the last year or so, mainly by Nico de Boinville. His more forceful riding has squeezed more from an already top-class horse and confirmed that two miles is just fine.

With De Boinville injured, it falls to Mark Walsh to ride Jonbon. Walsh's tendencies are more towards patient riding than De Boinville's. So long as he is aggressive enough, Jonbon ought to land a third Celebration Chase and 11th Grade 1.

Jonbon: bounced back from his Champion Chase defeat in the Melling ChaseCredit: Edward Whitaker

Walsh may have to do at least some of the work himself, as this field is thin on avowed front runners. The horse likeliest to press Jonbon early on, and to test him at the finish, is Energumene. He is a dual winner of the Champion Chase and, although 11 and past his best, he remains high-class.

Other credible, if not exactly pressing, threats exist. Il Etait Temps has not run for a year and his very best form is over further. And Edwardstone, while still a high-level performer, has been the Washington Generals to Jonbon's Harlem Globetrotters for years. That is unlikely to change now he is 11.

While evidence has mounted about Jonbon's vulnerability at Cheltenham, his invincibility everywhere else has hardened. A messy race is one of few realistic dangers, and it is in his new rider's gift to take that out of the equation.
Analysis by Keith Melrose

Henderson bids to boost top Celebration record

Forget Dan Skelton and Willie Mullins for just one moment, the Celebration Chase has been all about a different champion trainer of late.

Nicky Henderson has won the title six times, first in 1985-86 and most recently in 2019-20, and he has won this race seven, albeit he took a while to assert his dominance.

Having had Tiutchev finish only fifth when sent off favourite for the first running in 2001, Henderson had secured just one third place before finally landing the race with French Opera in 2011.

Then came the superstars. Sprinter Sacre followed his Champion Chase success by landing this in 2016 and Altior did the same double in 2018 and 2019, having initiated a hat-trick by taking the Celebration as a novice in 2017.

Now Jonbon is out to match his record three wins, having emulated that success as a novice in 2023 and then turned the tables on his Cheltenham conqueror El Fabiolo here 12 months ago.

Nicky Henderson: trainer of JonbonCredit: Edward Whitaker (racingpost.com/photos)

As in each of the past two years, he comes here after success at Aintree, on this occasion a comfortable repeat victory in the Melling Chase that ensures he remains unbeaten in 16 starts away from Cheltenham.

He has a new jockey, with Mark Walsh replacing the injured Nico de Boinville, and Henderson said: "He's been brilliant and he loves the track, but we just have to make sure the ground is safe enough and I'm sure it will be.

"He's done this quick turnaround before. It is quick, and you've got to be mindful of it because it won't be easy. You can't tell how much these festivals take out of these horses, because he'll have done Cheltenham, Aintree and now this. He's doing three Grade 1s and it's a tough game, but he's in great form."

What they say

Alan King, trainer of Edwardstone
He had a setback before Cheltenham but he seems back to himself. He had a day out in Lambourn last week and he's as ready as I can get him. It's great to have him back but it's a hot race and I'm under no illusions about what he's facing.

Alan King: trainer of EdwardstoneCredit: Julian Herbert

Willie Mullins, trainer of Energumene and Il Etait Temps
I imagine the ground will probably be too good for Energumene. Unless the ground turns really soft, we're probably playing for place money. It's Il Etait Temps' first run for a long time. He's been working well at home and it looks like he might get some nice place money.

Dan Skelton, trainer of Harper's Brook and Unexpected Party
We're asking these horses unbelievable questions. They'll run their best but unfortunately even their absolute best is going to come up a little short.

Willy Twiston-Davies, assistant to Nigel Twiston-Davies, trainer of Master Chewy
He's very consistent. He ran a good race at Cheltenham and he goes well fresh so we deliberately kept him for this.
Reporting by David Carr

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