Jonbon to defend perfect record over fences at Warwick

Lambourn’s Nicky Henderson has declared multiple Grade One winner Jonbon to be in ‘super form’ as he prepares to put his unbeaten record over fences on the line in the Kingmaker Novices’ Chase at Warwick on Saturday.

The JP McManus-owned gelding is bidding to give Henderson his third victory in the Grade Two prize as he returns to the scene of his debut over fences, where he beat fellow Grade One winner Monmiral by a comfortable seven lengths in the Bloodstock Novices’ Chase in November.

The seven-year-old was impressive on his debut over fences and bolstered his jumping credentials even further when winning the Grade One Close Brothers Henry VIII Novices’ Chase at Sandown before Christmas.

Jonbon will now look to produce a similar display to enhance his position as ante-poste favourite for next month’s Arkle Novices’ Chase at Cheltenham Festival, which he is the 11-8 market leader for.

"Everything has been great since Sandown and he is in super form," Henderson told The Jockey Club's Graham Clark.

"He schooled on Thursday and he has been great, he's having a good time.

“He just wants one more run before Cheltenham and this fits perfectly.

"He was silky smooth at Sandown. He jumped, he galloped and he showed he has gears.”

Jonbon was also a Grade One winner over hurdles and has made the transition to fences look seamless, which Henderson puts down to the fact that he's a more settled character at home at Seven Barrows and has built a relationship with his regular work rider Paddy Murphy.

"He's settled down a lot," he said.

"He was just a bit edgy and fidgety but Paddy rides him every day and gets on really well with him.

"They go and do their own thing and join in with the rest of the string at the appointed moment.

"He starts somewhere else and joins in and he is very happy doing that."

Looking ahead to Cheltenham, Jonbon is set to take on the Willie Mullins-trained El Fabiolo, who was a comfortable winner in the Irish Arkle Novices Chase at Leopardstown at the weekend.

The two went toe-to-toe in the Grade One Top Novices' Hurdle at Aintree in April, with Jonbon finishing a neck clear of his rival, and six-time champion trainer Henderson is expecting another close contest come March.

Henderson said: “That was a good race in Ireland and El Fabiolo was only a neck behind Jonbon at Aintree last season.

“That is good form in Ireland and the danger to Jonbon in the Arkle was always going to come out of that race and it certainly has.

“We just want Jonbon to have a nice time at Warwick to put himself right for Cheltenham."