Jonbon emulated Kauto Star by defending his title in the Gr1 Betfair Tingle Creek Chase at Sandown on Saturday.
The Nicky Henderson-trained gelding (8/13 favourite) was always prominent, travelling easily for jockey Nico de Boinville. Clear of the opposition two out, he ran on readily up the hill, winning in emphatic style.
Jonbon (Nico de Boinville) wins the Gr1 Betafir Tingle Creek Chase at Sandown (Pic – Coolmore)
Irish raider Quilixios who tried to match strides with the winner for a long way, was a brave second ahead of the running-on JPR One, but this race was all about Jonbon, now a 5/2 favourite for the Champion Chase.
Henderson reported Jonbon to be “bright as a button” on Sunday and that his next target is the Ascot highlight in January.
“Surely, we go the Clarence House next and then hopefully we’ll get into a fight with whoever they send over from Ireland at Cheltenham.
If for any reason he has to wait for the Game Spirit at Newbury in February, he may have to take on the Betfair Henry VIII Novices’ Chase winner L’Eau Du Sud.
Ultimately, it will only be a matter of time before Jonbon clashes with the Dan Skelton-trained Arkle Trophy Novices’ Chase hope who has taken his very good handicap hurdle form to new heights over fences.
An indescribable connection between trainer Nicky Henderson and Jonbon (Pic – Sandown Park Racecourse on FB)
A satisfied Skelton was adamant L’Eau du Sud will be better on drier ground, observing: “He was untidy at the last two fences, but the good ones find a way. There was also an unanswered question with him about how resilient he is in a battle. I think he has answered that quite emphatically.”
On Sunday, Energumene won a third Bar One Racing Hilly Way Chase as he made a successful return to action at Cork.
Willie Mullins’ 10-year-old, not seen in public since April 2023, duly picked up where he left off, coming home a clear winner by ten-lengths.
Paul Townend took up the running early on aboard the brilliant Energumene and he had all bar one of his rivals in trouble heading into the home straight.
Dinoblue stayed on to take the runner-up spot, with Appreciate It third.
Bookmakers cut the winner to 5/1 from 10/1 for the Queen Mother Champion Chase at Cheltenham, a race he won in 2022 and 2023.
“That was a very exuberant display from him,” Mullins said.
“I thought Dinoblue would make more of the running, but Paul said his horse was just looking for fences to jump and wanted to go a better gallop, so he let him on instead of fighting him.”
“I was very happy with how he jumped, and he had been doing everything right since he came back in August. Hopefully, he can keep going that way and it was a nice performance to build on for the season.”
Energumene memorably came off second-best in a titanic clash with Shishkin in the Clarence House Chase at Ascot in January 2022 and whether he will head back to Berkshire for a possible clash with Shishkin’s stablemate Jonbon next month remains to be seen.
