Sandown sets the stage for the big Grade 1 action this Saturday as the Esher venue hosts the top-tier double bill of the Henry VIII Novices’ Chase and Tingle Creek Chase.
The former event can provide a glimpse of a future star, but the Tingle Creek Chase is where the established class acts compete. Kauto Star won this twice before stepping up to dominate the staying division. In more recent years, the prize has fallen to Champion Chase heroes Master Minded, Sprinter Sacre, and Altior. Quite the roll of honour and bidding to join them in 2024 is the horse many believe is Britain’s best chance of claiming one of the four Championship events at the 2025 Cheltenham Festival.
Next Step Towards the Champion Chase for Henderson Star
Unlike the illustrious names mentioned above, Nicky Henderson’s Jonbon is not yet a Champion Chaser, nor even a winner at the Cheltenham Festival. Having finished second to stablemate Constitution Hill in the 2022 Supreme Novices’ Hurdle, he again filled the runner-up position behind El Fabiolo in the 2023 Arkle before missing the 2024 edition due to the health issues afflicting the Henderson yard.
Could the full-brother to Douvan make it a case of third-time lucky on the biggest stage of all? The market believes so. Despite the announcement that impressive 2024 Arkle winner Gaelic Warrior will head down the Champion Chase route, Jonbon is just about hanging onto favouritism in most lists at around the 10/3 mark. First things first, he has the opportunity to land an eighth career Grade 1 in the Tingle Creek Chase on Saturday afternoon.
Stellar at Sandown
Whilst never quite managing to get his head in front at the Cheltenham Festival, Jonbon has been imperious at Sandown, with the test of speed and jumping challenge provided by the Railway Fences playing to his strengths.
It was at this meeting in 2022 that the JP McManus-owned star picked up his first top-level victory when finishing eight lengths clear of Boothill in the Henry VIII Novices’ Chase.
Following his second-place effort in the Arkle, he returned to Sandown for the 2023 Celebration Chase. Despite making an uncharacteristic jumping error that day, he still had too many guns on the run to the line to fend off 2024 Champion Chase king Captain Guinness by 3¾l.
The Sandown masterclass continued in 2023/24, with Jonbon winning this race at the first attempt before gaining revenge on El Fabiolo in a successful defence of his Celebration Chase crown.
Foes Old and New Amongst Seven Rivals
Given his flawless record at the course and solid win in the Shloer Chase on his seasonal return, Jonbon is understandably a warm order to become the 12th multiple winner of this £175,000 event.
Lying in wait amongst the opposition are a trio of performers who may well be sick of the sight of the son of Walk In The Park. Second to Jonbon at this meeting in 2022, Boothill has had two further cracks at the 170-rated star without success. Alan King’s Edwardstone has tasted defeat at the hands of Jonbon on four occasions, whilst Unexpected Party has been beaten by a combined 37½l in two previous duels with the champ.
All of the above very clearly have work to do to turn the tables with the market leader. However, the field also contains four runners who Jonbon will face for the first time:
- Quilixios – 15lbs inferior to Jonbon according to the official handicapper. However, this Henry De Bromhead runner has one more Cheltenham Festival success than his rival, having claimed the 2021 Triumph Hurdle. He has been hit or miss over fences thus far but posted his best effort yet to slam Marine Nationale in the Barberstown Castle Chase in November
- JPR One – Joe Tizzard’s Stable Star claimed a second career Grade 2 victory in the Haldon Gold Cup on his seasonal return. This demands more, and he managed only a six-length third in the 2023 Henry VIII Novices Chase over this course and distance
- Master Chewy – Unsuccessful in three previous outings in Grade 1 company but went down by just a neck to the talented Found A Fifty in the 2024 Maghill Novices’ Chase
- Solness – Joseph O’Brien runner who steps into Grade 1 chase company for the first time. Zero from six in Grade 2 and 3 events but ran well behind Found A Fifty last time out
With more Grade 1 triumphs than the rest of the field combined, an unbeaten record over course and distance, and a 7lb-25lb advantage on ratings, Jonbon is the one they all have to beat. Will he deliver, or will an old adversary or new challenger cause a shock? Saturday, 3 pm at Sandown is the time and place to find out.