McCoy backing Jonbon to give McManus first taste of Champion Chase glory

Sir Anthony McCoy is backing Jonbon to deliver a knockout blow to his BetMGM Queen Mother Champion Chase rivals and break his Cheltenham Festival duck in the process.

The Nicky Henderson-trained nine-year-old has only been beaten three times in 20 races under rules, but all of those defeats have come at Prestbury Park, including two previous losses at National Hunt racing’s showpiece event.

However, there was no disgrace in being second best behind superstar stablemate Constitution Hill in the 2022 Supreme and El Fabiolo was another formidable opponent at the time of their Arkle clash 12 months later.

Last season’s Clarence House Chase defeat at Cheltenham by Elixir De Nutz was disappointing, but Jonbon does have a couple of course wins on his card and returns there on the back of rock-solid Grade One strikes at Sandown and Ascot.

William Hill ambassador McCoy – who won an epic renewal of this race when Edredon Bleu short-headed Direct Route in 2000 – said: “I absolutely love Jonbon and I would love to ride him in a Champion Chase.

“I think he’s absolutely tailor-made for the test it presents, because he’s a real strong stayer who jumps well – he’s almost like a better version of Edredon Bleu.

“There’s also a bit of Floyd Mayweather about him – he only just does enough, but he’s a hell of a winner. As far as this year’s race, I just think he wins.”

McCoy enjoyed great success when number one rider for Jonbon’s owner JP McManus and is still associated with the famous green and gold colours.

He added: “Jonbon is obviously one we’re really hoping can get the job done this year. He’s been a special horse for JP, and I think it’d be fitting if he were to be the first horse to win a Champion Chase for JP. That would be a big box ticked, for sure.”

McCoy is confident the McManus team have made the right decision in running Willie Mullins’ Fact To File in the Ryanair Chase, rather than taking on Galopin Des Champ for the fourth time this term in the Gold Cup.

Fact To File came out on top when they met in the John Durkan at Punchestown in November but has since been put in his place by his stablemate in the Savills Chase and the Irish Gold Cup at Leopardstown.

“I’d say that this year, the right race for him is the Ryanair,” said McCoy, speaking at a William Hill preview night.

“I know that a few people have said that they think his form might’ve regressed this season since the John Durkan, but I think he’s been ridden to try to beat Galopin Des Champs and, as we know, that’s an unbelievably tall order, particularly around Leopardstown.

“Looking at the rest of them in the Ryanair, the one that could totally take the race by storm is Il Est Francais. He put up a really bold display at Kempton, but you’d have question marks about how the undulations at Cheltenham would suit him. You’d also worry about him having bled before too.

“Protektorat is fairly solid as the defending champion, but if I had to ride one of them, it’d have to be Fact To File. And that’s not because JP owns him, it’s that he’s got great Festival form, and the drop back in trip should be perfect for him.”

McManus again has a whole host of fancied runners at Cheltenham and shows no signs of easing off in his pursuit of Festival success, having made mid-season purchases of The New Lion and The Wallpark.

“As regards JP, it really was such a pleasure to ride for him because he just loves horses,” said McCoy. “That’s what it comes down to with him – the love and respect for the animal.

“At every level, you know. He loves coming down and seeing the young three- and four-year-olds, thinking that they might be the next Synchronised, Jonbon or Istabraq.

“You see a lot of owners come into the sport – they have a few nice days in the sun, enjoy the attention that comes with it and love the big days. With JP, it’s so much deeper than that.

“He has a genuine, open-hearted love for the horse, and you just know his horses mean the absolute world to him. He loves the Cheltenham Festival, too – so riding for him there was just the biggest privilege and the best job in the world.”