Champion Chase horse by horse guide
Jonbon can storm back up the Cheltenham charts for a memorable Betway Queen Mother Champion Chase (3.30) triumph.
The eight-year-old shapes his own destiny – and has the ability to reverse Arkle form with Willie Mullins-trained favourite El Fabiolo.
Mightily impressive when accounting for Edwardstone in the Shloer Chase in November, Jonbon looked an altogether more polished performer.
But Nico de Boinville’s absence counted when he subsequently failed to find his Clarence House Chase rhythm over course and distance.
Before the race was rearranged from Ascot, Nicky Henderson had previously committed the JP McManus-owned chaser to a pre-Cheltenham clash with El Fabiolo.
And that shows his confidence in Jonbon, eight years after the Seven Barrows handler helped Sprinter Sacre regain his swagger here in 2016.
Boothill
In trouble when Edwardstone pushed the pace on at Newbury 32 days ago, his second non-completion in a row. Is inbetween being an excellent handicapper and not hitting the heights at graded level. Plenty to find.
Captain Guinness
Rachael Blackmore’s big race ride was reported to have a physical issue when pulling up behind Dinoblue over Christmas. Since finished 14-and-a-half lengths behind El Fabiolo at Leopardstown, an ideal confidence booster. Was well clear of the rest when a brave second on soft in last year’s renewal – and should make the top three once again.
Edwardstone
Expected to make this a good test after front-running tactics gave him a new lease of life on heavy ground at Newbury. Around ten lengths ahead mid-race, he had Boothill on the stretch with two to jump and coasted 40 lengths clear of Funambule Sivola. Previously came up short against Jonbon and faces competition for the lead.
El Fabiolo
Six wins from as many starts over fences, warming up for this with an eight-and-a-half length defeat of Dinoblue at Leopardstown. The runner-up was in fine form, so that was a smart effort and he is top-rated on 175 for hat-trick seeker Willie Mullins. Price reflects that however and did not entirely convince with his jumping, going to his right and clumsy at times.
Elixir Du Nutz
Produced a battling performance under talented young rider Freddie Gingell to thwart Jonbon by a neck on Trials Day. Took advantage of the hot favourite’s significant mistake at the fourth last fence to see it out strongly, after racing close to the pace. In the form of his life, but Jonbon should have more firepower this time.
Funambule Sivola
Two-time winner of the Game Spirit winner and second to Energumene in this two years ago. Form has taken a dip with age and he hasn’t been figuring in recent handicaps, let alone Grade One events.
Gentleman De Mee
One of several pace angles, who will ensure Edwardstone does not have it all his own way. Led stablemate El Fabiolo to the final fence of the Dublin Chase, below the form of his surprise success 12 months earlier. Shouldn’t be troubling the principals up the hill.
Jonbon
Seven from nine over fences, he lugged left when finding El Fabiolo five-and-a-half lengths too good in the 2023 Arkle. Blundered his chance away at Cheltenham last time, which is not an ideal prep, but he is top class at best and the Shloer form is the race to judge him on. The faster Edwardstone goes, the better he should jump.
Prediction
1 Jonbon
2 El Fabiolo
3 Captain Guinness
Rest of the day two action
BALLYBURN is a ‘banker’ for punters in the Gallagher Novices’ Hurdle on day two of Cheltenham 2024.
Willie Mullins’ exceptional recruit powered clear of his Grade One field at the Dublin Racing Festival.
And there will be some long faces if Ireland’s hotshot cannot take care of just seven rivals over 2m 5f.
Part-owned by football agent David Manasseh, the six-year-old appears to have bundles of energy and a step up from two miles is no problem.
Mullins, on the hunt for 100 Festival winners, chases a quickfire double with Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase (2.10, nb) favourite FACT TO FILE.
A Gold Cup horse of the future, the JP McManus-owned talent skipped a season hurdling to make a huge statement in this division.
His Closutton trainer did the same with Florida Pearl, one of his two winners for his stable at the 1998 Festival.
With huge ammunition these days, Mullins can rate Fact To File against stablemate Gaelic Warrior, with my selection’s excellent Dublin Racing Festival time a positive.
The skill to go a strong mid-race gallop, plus scope for improvement at three miles, should have Stay Away Fay and Monty’s Star in trouble.
MIGHT I is fancied to halt the Irish momentum with a Coral Cup (2.50, Nap) strike for Harry Fry and Jonathan Burke.
The carrier of 11st 9lb was one of a few to make headway from the rear to finish fourth in last year’s Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys’ Handicap Hurdle.
Not ideally suited by fences this winter in today’s headgear combination, his mark has fallen by 3lb in this sphere and he is unexposed in big fields.
If the cross country course passes an 8am inspection, last year’s Glenfarclas Chase (4.10) one-two DELTA WORK and Galvin are the pair to focus on.
Two-and-a-half lengths was the distance between them when Galvin lacked experience of jumping the figure of eight circuit.
But he found conditions testing enough and recent wet weather gives Delta Work the edge for a race hat-trick in first-time blinkers.
A myriad of outcomes are possible in the Johnny Henderson Grand Annual Chase (4.50), with Libberty Hunter and Madara in peak form heading into it.
Saint Roi is respected back in handicap company, but Jamie Snowden has an even more interesting contender in the shape of HARDY DU SEUIL.
Kept fresh for the spring, he stayed on for third up Sandown’s incline and has crept into this off a light weight, for his thriving stable and jockey.
ARGENTO BOY, a half-brother to 2013 Weatherbys Champion Bumper (5.30) winner Briar Hill, should figure in the finale.
One of nine Mullins-trained runners, stamina is likely to be his strength as he comes up against Gordon Elliott’s more experienced duo Jalon D’Oudairies and Romeo Coolio.
