Jonbon is officially better than ever and thinking he won’t win at Cheltenham because of the track is nonsense
IT’S official. Jonbon ran the best race of his life at Ascot on Saturday in the Grade 1 Clarence House, recording a mark of 171 for the first time.
That’s what I can tell you thanks to help from the official handicappers Chris Nash and Mark Olley. It’s appreciated, lads.
Now the question is can he run to 171 at Cheltenham?
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Many professionals out there will continue to tell you the star two-mile chaser – trained brilliantly by Nicky Henderson – is better going right-handed than left, the way he will have to go to land the biggest test of them all for his type, the 2025 Queen Mother Champion Chase.
The immediate cliche thrown at us all is that Jonbon can’t be as good left-handed as he has only ever been beaten – at Grade 1 level at least – at Cheltenham.
But that is a load of b******* in my opinion.
I’ve looked closely at this before, but let’s just go through things again.
Jonbon’s last defeat came in the 2024 Clarence House at Cheltenham in which he almost fell four out.
To suggest that was because of the track rather than just ‘an error’ is ridiculous.
Added to which despite the horrific mistake he battled on super bravely.
Prior to that he was denied by El Fabiolo in the Grade 1 Arkle Trophy.
It’s worth remembering that day El Fabiolo was the 11-10 favorite, and was unbeaten over fences for Willie Mullins.
Added to which, El Fabiolo’s only previous defeat for Mullins was when second to Jonbon at left-handed Aintree!
Jonbon’s first defeat at Cheltenham came in the Grade 1 Supreme Novices’ Hurdle when destroyed like every other horse by Constitution Hill.
How anyone can look through that and think he’s doesn’t cope left-handed is beyond me.
Official handicap marks – recently of a consistent 170 – also suggest he runs to the same mark whichever way he goes.
When he won the Grade 2 Shloer Chase at Cheltenham in 2023 Jonbon was rated 166. He was upped 4lb for the performance to 170.
Jonbon might not win the 2025 Champion Chase. But any suggestion it’s because of the track is utter nonsense.
A big shout out to Top Ville Ben who was retired this week at the age of 13 having won nine races and run 46 times.
I would argue his biggest success came in the Grade 3 Rowland Meyrick at Wetherby in 2019.
He was also second in a Grade 2 Rendlesham and third in a Grade 1 Mildmay Novices’ Chase at Aintree.
Top Ville Ben, trained mostly by Phil Kirby but originally by Nicky Henderson and lately by Jennie Candlish, was super tough and loved mud.
John McInerney, part of the group that owned him, said on X: “Top Ville Ben took us everywhere we dreamed of. Hard to pinpoint his best day, but seeing him pass us going out for the final lap of the Grand National was special (eventually pulled up behind Noble Yeats).
“Huge thanks to trainers, jockeys and staff that got him to retirement safely.”
A warrior. Well done Top Ville Ben.
/racin