Henderson hails Jonbon as ‘one of the best we’ve had’

Where does Jonbon stand amongst the Seven Barrows greats? That was the question Nicky Henderson was left to ponder after his latest two-mile superstar’s flawless display in the BetMGM Clarence House Chase at Ascot.

Mention Henderson and two-mile chasers and the mind immediately jumps to the great days of Sprinter Sacre, Altior, and going even further back, Remittance Man.

If there is one thing the Lambourn handler knows, it is the hallmarks of a top-class two-miler and what the aforementioned all have in common is a Queen Mother Champion Chase success on their CV.

However, that accolade is the missing piece of the Jonbon jigsaw and Henderson was left to consider if a triumph in March for the general 5-4 favourite would finally seal his place in the pantheon of champions to stride out from his hallowed yard.

Henderson said: “It would be nice if he could go and win a Champion Chase, but does he need to? I hope he doesn’t need to and I think he has to be recognised as one of the best we’ve ever had for a long time.

“He goes along with those others, the Sprinter Sacres, Altior, they’ve all gone and won these races and did win Champion Chases.

“I think some people say ‘does he get the true recognition he deserves?’. Possibly we have to then go and win a Champion Chase to earn that and let’s hope he can.”

Jonbon’s Clarence House success, erasing the memory of his narrow defeat when his jumping let him down in a transferred renewal at Cheltenham last year, was his ninth at the highest level – an eighth over the larger obstacles, which leaves him only one behind the number both Altior and Sprinter Sacre managed over fences during their illustrious careers.

Victory at the Cheltenham would take him to double figures in Grade Ones and would go some way to eradicating his previous Festival woes.

Constitution Hill may have brushed him aside in his novice hurdle days, while El Fabiolo was much too strong in the following year’s Arkle, but there was little anyone connected to Jonbon could do 12 months ago as Captain Guinness took home the premier two-mile chasing prize.

“He probably does deserve to win a Champion Chase, he had to miss it last year and we lost in the Arkle the year before, but apart from that his record is pretty unblemished,” continued Henderson.

“You can’t blame him for not being there last year, it was unfair the way it went and pretty cruel on the whole team really that we had to sit and watch what turned out to be not the most competitive Champion Chase pass us by.

“Our season so far has gone terrific and according to plan, but we were in the same position last year, so there is a long way to go yet.

“He’s a genuine two-miler when going forward and you don’t need to be so aggressive at the early stages of the season, but now we’re in this big league and the next one is the highest bar, that’s the way he’s going to do it.

“I can’t see us doing any different unless someone else is going to go very, very fast.”

As well as multiple Grade One victories apiece, the one thing Sprinter Sacre, Altior and now Jonbon all have in common is Nico de Boinville’s assistance – whether on the schooling grounds or the racetrack.

De Boinville was the man who famously tuned-up Sprinter Sacre behind the scenes before finally getting his moment in the spotlight during the gelding’s emotional Champion Chase win in 2016, but he has very much been front and centre in the rise to stardom for both Altior and Jonbon.

“He was the central part of Sprinter Sacre in his early days and Barry (Geraghty) was lucky enough to just come along and get on him on race days,” explained Henderson when discussing De Boinville’s influence.

“He never rides Jonbon at home though, Paddy (Murphy) rides him every day. You couldn’t put anyone else on him, that would fry our poor friend’s brain.

“Nico just jumps on to go over five fences and then gives him back to Paddy – that’s all Nico is allowed to see at home. He’s not the most straightforward horse but we’re just very lucky these two-milers keep coming along and long may it last.”

For a horse who has long seen off the moniker of ‘Douvan’s brother’, the final word is perhaps left to the man lucky enough to be in the saddle and who has a stellar book of rides to look forward to in March.

However, the ever-pragmatic Seven Barrows number one concluded: “Jonbon is certainly a worthy favourite, he just needs to get there now. We all know what can happen, so fingers crossed he gets there sound and healthy.”