Nicky Henderson says it’s ‘all systems go’ for Jonbon as he heads six entries for Saturday’s Gr1 BetMGM Clarence House Chase at Ascot.
The JP McManus-owned nine-year-old has a remarkable record under rules, with 16 victories from 19 races including eight at the highest level.
He has never finished worse than second in a race and his trainer feels he is now getting the credit he deserves.
Jonbon wins the 2021 Gr2 Kennel Gate Novices’ Hurdle at Ascot (Pic -Megan Coggin)
Henderson said, “We’re looking forward to it and it’s all systems go. In the Tingle Creek the other day the crowd really got behind him, which is nice. He deserves it. He’s been playing at the top table for quite a while now, he used to be the young buck coming in.
“He has had the one run round Ascot when he won the Kennel Gate. I don’t think left or right makes any difference to him. He loves Sandown which is right-handed with a fair few undulations in it so I can’t see why Ascot wouldn’t be suitable. I would hope he would enjoy it.”
Following a 593-day layoff, dual Champion Chaser Energumene made his long-awaited return to the track with an impressive success in the Hilly Way Chase at Cork in December.
Willie Mullins’ 11-year-old has been entered for another tilt at the BetMGM Clarence House Chase after finishing second in 2022 and third in 2023 (run at Cheltenham), and Henderson is excited for another mouthwatering clash between two heavyweights of the two-mile chase division.
Henderson said: “This could be a big battle and it’s great for the game. Just like over Christmas, high-class horses taking on high-class horses. I hope it’s a race that people can look forward to, it should get pretty star billing.
“Energumene was impressive on his comeback run a few weeks ago, so it looks as if we’re going to have a re-do, but it will be Jonbon who’s going to have to do battle with him. The interesting thing there is that Jonbon’s very happy up there [with the pace], they could be going a right good gallop, it could be an attacking game! This could be brewing up for another historic renewal.”
Henderson is the leading trainer in the BetMGM Clarence House Chase with six winners since it was first run in 1989. That includes three winners since it became a Grade 1 race in 2008, with Sprinter Sacre, Altior and Shishkin all winning this race throughout their illustrious careers.
Henderson admits he’s been honoured to witness such stellar talent: “We’ve been very lucky, these two-milers have joined in one after the other – Sprinter Sacre, Altior, Shishkin and then Jonbon – they’ve slotted in nicely, you wouldn’t have wanted them all at the same time – well, you wouldn’t have minded! We’re just very lucky that they came into our lives. They all had their own temperaments. Shishkin had his own quirks, he was a character, we loved him. Altior was probably the most straight-forward, and Sprinter was just something else. In the first part of his career, he was virtually unbeatable, he was a brilliant horse.”
The latter-named Shishkin gave Henderson perhaps the most thrilling win of all, as he stayed on to beat Energumene in the final strides of the 2022 renewal at Ascot. Henderson looked back on that race with fond memories: “That was one of the great races of all-time, it was billed as that and it lived up to that, which was terrific. Well, it was terrific for us, I don’t think Willie enjoyed it as much as we did! It was going their way and then it came back to go our way at the end.”
Other entries for Saturday’s £175,000 feature contest include Alan King’s three-time Grade 1 winner Edwardstone, three-time Ascot winner Boothill, Libberty Hunter and Unexpected Party.
The other Pattern race on the card is the Grade 2 BetMGM Mares’ Hurdle (Registered as the Warfield) where Mullins has entered Kargese, a Grade 1 winner last year at Punchestown. She could face up to seven rivals including Take No Chances, the winner of a Listed race in November at Wetherby, and Casa No Mento, a Listed winner at Punchestown last May. The race is being run over two miles for the first time after a swap of distances with Doncaster’s Grade 2 Yorkshire Rose Mares’ Hurdle, designed to further optimise the mares’ programme in Great Britain.
There is £418,000 of prize money on offer across the card which is the second day of the inaugural Berkshire Winter Million meeting in partnership with Windsor. The opening race on the card, the BetMGM Juvenile Hurdle, could see Triumph Hurdle favourite Lulamba make his British debut as he features among 18 entries while the £100,000 bet365 Handicap Chase has attracted 14 entries including Hitman, Martator and Latenightpass.
Track conditions at Ascot currently remain frozen in places but with temperatures due to rise to 10C+ by the middle of the week with milder nights and temperatures not expected to drop below freezing this week. It is due to remain dry through to Saturday and the Going is currently Good to Soft, Soft in places.
