Henderson is dreaming of Champion Chase to cement star’s legacy
It might not have produced the same sort of spectacle as the great Clarence House Chase of 2022 but for very different reasons Jonbon ensured this year’s contest was every bit as spectacular.
Whereas former stablemate Shishkin left it later than late to mow down Energumene three years ago, Jonbon and Nico de Bonville went about putting the same rival to the sword from the off.
On his first try over Ascot’s fences, Jonbon wasted little time becoming acquainted with the royal racecourse’s stiff birch obstacles, and turning away from the stands for the first time the revs were already up and the clash of two genuine titans of the two-mile chase division was on.
Jonbon was the more exuberant at his fences, but that was not enough to shake off the attention of two-time Champion Chase winner Energumene, who was still close enough if good enough by the time they turned for home.
At the age of 11, Energumene was trying to give two years to Jonbon and from the back of the second-last it was clear he did not have the legs to match a rival who has been beaten just three times in 20 starts under rules.
Yet this was not so much about Energumene’s failings and more an exhibition of the sheer brilliance Jonbon possesses, something he highlighted in spectacular fashion with the way he stood back from the last fence and then let fly. From there he swept like a tsunami to the line, putting six and a half lengths between himself and a rival who had only ever been beaten twice in 13 starts over fences going into Ascot. And anyone who tracked Jonbon after the line will have seen he wasn’t stopping in a hurry either.
“What a performance,” said winning trainer Nicky Henderson, happy to say Jonbon had put in a career-best effort. “Nico set off with only one intention to be honest. It was a brave way to do it but it was the right way and this horse loves it. He was a bit too fresh but that’s the way he wants to be.
“It was two heavyweights fighting for a title and it was a good, clean fight. Jonbon is still quite young and he’s so professional now. He can dance at a fence and is very quick in and out when he’s meeting one short, but what I loved was the way he quickened up going to the last.
“He’d fought off the enemy but still wanted to go and make a good show of it. What he did from the second-last to the line was the most impressive thing.”
Courtesy of Racing Post
