Henderson has no Cheltenham fears for Jonbon

Nicky Henderson is adamant Jonbon is more than capable of producing his best around Cheltenham, as his prolific Grade One winner bids for a first Festival success at the age of nine in the BetMGM Queen Mother Champion Chase on Wednesday.

Jonbon has been a superstar for owner JP McManus since he parted with £570,000 for the brother to Douvan and he is a rare example in National Hunt racing of a very expensive horse looking a bargain.

He has won 17 races out of 20 under rules, with all three defeats coming at Cheltenham, albeit the first of those can be excused as he was up against Constitution Hill in the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle.

The following year he was second in the Arkle to El Fabiolo, while he made several jolting errors when beaten narrowly in the rearranged Clarence House Chase at Cheltenham last season. There are two victories in the Shloer Chase, run at Prestbury Park, on his record though and this season he has been foot-perfect.

“We think he is exactly where he should be and he wants to be, everything has gone right,” said Henderson.

“People have doubts about him around Cheltenham, and around Sandown he is just spectacular. But left-handed, right-handed, it makes no difference and he is perfectly capable of going left and he’s won the Shloer Chase the last two years. He’s in good shape and everything has gone well.

“There will be plenty of pace, which he doesn’t mind, as long as they go a good gallop he will be happy.”

Next best in the betting is Barry Connell’s Marine Nationale, who would be a deeply emotional winner.

Two years ago jockey Michael O’Sullivan partnered him to win the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle for his finest hour in the saddle. O’Sullivan sadly died last month from injuries suffered in a fall at Thurles, aged just 24.

“Going to Cheltenham will be a huge plus for him, as he is so placid and he handles the place really well,” said Connell.

“His work has been excellent this year and looking at the profile of all the horses in there this year, he probably has the most scope for additional improvement.

“We started him off small at Naas and he ran a nice race and then he took a huge improvement at Leopardstown at Christmas and I’d say he then improved another 10lb when second at the Dublin Racing Festival and jumped brilliantly both times.

“He’s got the right profile and has won a Grade One around there, so another 7/10lb improvement and I think he will be right there.”

Willie Mullins’ Energumene is a dual winner of the race but was put in his place by Jonbon in the Clarence House at Ascot.

His trainer is banking on a return to Cheltenham being in the 11-year-old’s favour, although he seems unlikely to have the ground in his favour.

“Jonbon is way better at Ascot and Energumene is better at Cheltenham, that’s my hope,” he said.

One who has emerged as a real contender this year is Joseph O’Brien’s Solness, who since making no impression behind Jonbon in the Tingle Creek has won two Grade Ones in Ireland.

“We never would have expected at the start of the season he would win two Grade Ones, but there has been gradual improvement from race to race all season,” said O’Brien.

“It was obviously a really nice performance at Christmas at Leopardstown, but then you’re never quite sure what is going to happen when it comes to backing that up.

“He did back it up at the Dublin Racing Festival and marked himself out as a serious Champion Chase competitor.”

Another previous winner is the Henry de Bromhead-trained Captain Guinness who benefited from El Fabiolo’s no-show in the race 12 months ago.

“I think we all felt we saw a glimmer of hope the last day in Leopardstown, which is a place he hates. I think you’re better looking at him at the second-last than at the line and we felt he was running well until then, but that last furlong just kills him,” said De Bromhead.

“He just about gets the two miles, so we’ll have him the best that we can. Last year was incredible, he deserved it and the owners deserved it as they’re great supporters.

“He loves Cheltenham, as when he gets into jumping at speed that’s his gig.”