CAN JONBON DO IT? ALL ROADS LEAD TO CHELTENHAM AFTER IMPRESSIVE CLARENCE HOUSE WIN

Despite going off the 8/13 favourite there were still plenty of questions about Jonbon heading into Saturday's Clarence House Stakes at Ascot. With many questioning the trainers form since the start of the year it wasn't a 'silly' notion to have some level of doubt.

That being said, approaching two fences from home any doubt had well and truly evaporated. Clear of the second favourite and Irish raider Energumene there was little anyone or anything could do to stop the JP McManus owned runner who ended up going well clear and winning by an impressive six and a half lengths.

As for the runner-up it's tough to say if it was just a minor blip and an off day or if his slight jumping errors were due to age catching up with him. Energumene, now entering his veteran years at the ripe old age of 11, wasn't his usual self but equally it'd be foolish for anyone to write him off when it comes to Cheltenham.

Cheltenham, more specifically 'The Festival', might be somewhat of a curse word when it comes to Jonbon. In a near-perfect career his only two defeats from 14 starts came at Jumps HQ. Filling the runners-up spot around this time last year and also claiming second in the 2023 running of the Supreme Novices Hurdle, 22 lengths behind Constitution Hill, which he shouldn't be too hard on himself for, considering what the winner has gone on to achieve.

He's done everything bar a festival win and otherwise can be rightly considered a superstar, however without a win at the biggest meeting in jumps racing there's a noticeable blemish on his otherwise fantastic formbook.

The majority of racing fans know he deserves a festival victory but what a horse deserves and what a horse gets can sometimes be poles apart.

He's now as short as 11/10 for the Champion Chase in March and former winner Energumene has drifted out to double figures. However with the young guns such as Gaelic Warrior (7/2 second fav) aiming to put pay to Henderson's hopeful Jonbon is going to have to be on his A-game.

If Jonbon finally gets a trip to the Winners Enclosure in March it'd be well and truly deserved and this looks like his best chance of doing so.

written by Rory Paddock