Jonbon made a successful start to his career over fences with a dominant victory in the Highflyer Bloodstock Novices’ Chase at Warwick.
Trained by Nicky Henderson, the $570,000 full brother to the mighty Douvan won his only start at Newbury and was four from five challenges – his only defeat coming at the hands of respected stablemate Constitution Hill in the Supreme last season. Novices Challenge at Cheltenham.
After taking the Grade One at Aintree, the five-year-old owned by JP McManus was furious with his weather reappearance and his curved bow as the 2-5 favourite, despite facing two of the top Grade Ones. Monmiral winner and Greatwood Hurdle winner in West Cork.
Jonbon just beat El Fabiolo in a big battle at Aintree
There was no delay due to the drop of the flag, though, with Jonbon and Aidan Coleman and Monmiral and Harry Cobden fighting to take the lead for West Cork who soon came close to giving up the rest.
Jonbon was a little inexperienced at the first hurdle, but was accurate in his fences and was impressive in the back straight, where his class began to tell.
Monmiral did his best to avoid the leader, but Jonbon raced away from third and just negotiated two fences in the straight to seal his seven-furlong victory.
Sky Bet were impressed, with the winner now heading into the Arkle Trophy market back at Cheltenham on 7/4.
Asked how he rated it out of 10, Henderson said: “It’s got to be nine and a half, right?
The idea would be Henry VIII and I have two and a half weeks, hopefully that gets us there.
“It’s a relief and it’s what we were hoping for. He’s a reliable partner and it’s what we were all hoping would happen.
“He was long on the hole, but he was still far away, and then he shortened, danced and was far away. At two fences he showed that he could do both and at the rest he was amazing.
“He ran well. A lot of our guys are running and I don’t see why he would be any different, but if he was good enough to do what he had to do today.
“This season was always difficult because we didn’t get the right competition. The schedule is Henry VIII at Sandown (on December 3), but it’s difficult.
“Fortunately they didn’t have a tough race, but remember these good horses don’t do it without putting in a lot and they have nerves and they sweat a bit – they put everything in.
“The idea would be Henry VIII and I have two and a half weeks, I hope it gets us there.”
