Equinties - Très Jonbon!

Gm, Equinauts

Will the machine be seen Friday!?

It’s genuinely incredible he could be balloted out of a race specifically put on just for him. Surely the BHA are going to have to rig it!?

Let’s dive in.

HEADLINE ROUNDUP

TRES JONBON!

Not every one came away from Saturday smiling (think MYRETOWN backers) but we imagine Henderson and one Venetia Williams most definitely did.

Ascot delivered the goods with the Betfair Ascot Chase, and JONBON basically reminded everyone why he's still one of the GOAT’s of jumps racing. The old boy (10yo now, but he don’t know that) went off at 4/9, and locked horns with PIC D’ORHY in one of those classic ‘long straight’ wars that the Berkshire course so often loves serving up. No one will forget JONBON’s fight with ENERGUMENE in the Clarence House last year or ALTIOR’s defeat to the myth CYRNAME.

This was JONBON’s 12th Grade 1 win—legend status locked in (if it wasn’t already) and Nicky Henderson was proud as punch, calling it a "proper race” with a big smile on his face. JONBON’s looking bang on target for the Ryanair at Cheltenham. And just imagine the scenes should he be able to do it! Every one knows a Cheltenham pot has remained very much elusive to him, which is the reason punters love to crab him, but Hendo believes he properly deserves one.

He did bloody well Saturday. Our X post caused a small bit of controversy on the day though:

We’ve watched the race back a couple of times to make sure our first thoughts were warranted. Some of the ‘JONBON won though’ replies were very basic but in nature and completely missed our point, the point being Nico did not help JONBON win the race, missing strides and therefore missing jumps. You can’t do that in Grade 1’s. Now, for the counter… JONBON is clearly not the most easy of rides hence why he’s found Cheltenham his arch nemesis but the lack of communication between the two Saturday will need to be straightened out if he’s ever going to do it.

We’d love to see Cobden on JONBON…

Saturday’s win simply further proved how much of a machine JONBON is to be able to get himself out of the pickles Nico put him in. Not many horses would have been able to do that.

Over at Haydock, William Hill’s Half A Mill Grand National Trial was meant to be MYRETOWN’s big audition for Aintree (and be within reach of the juicy £500k bonus if you double up). Instead... well. The favourite at 3/1, led early as expected then just... evaporated. Pulled up before the end because, as they put it, "he just didn't stay" the trip. It was a brutal fade which meant connections didn't waste time in cancelling their plans for the Grand National. Back to the drawing board with him.

On a brighter note, our friend Venetia Williams finally had reason to smile… and boy was it was overdue. The yard had been quieter than a library since mid-December, so landing a double felt like the stable throwing a party. Both CAMULUS and JEU D’OPALE won landing her the brace which Venetia was quick to describe it as "a relief and a long time coming".

Both horses displayed something her horses have been lacking recently - a powerful finish. When all others have been flat out on their hooves in the closing stages, these two won with authority and could have possible gone round again. Have the doors to Venetia Wonderland finally opened? Please!

Long live the winter Queen.

HEAVY WEIGHT HURDLER?

Now, we all know Nicholls get’s a bit over excited after a win, with DENMAN often being used as a description label for his upcoming chasers (we really don’t mind it, Paul is more qualified than most to judge) and he’s in the papers today offering up hurdling’s biggest prize as a target for one TUTTI QUANTI.

He ‘annihilated’ a good field at Newbury last week in the big William Hill handicap, off top weight to boot. The ground was key here though - Paul says he loves the mud.

Given the state of the champion hurdle scene now, Paul has every right to believe that TUTTI QUANTI’s performance has opened up this new door to him. He’ll need to be supplemented though and Paul will leave this late - five days before the race and will only do so if the ground is heavy.

Would you back TUTTI QUANTI in a heavy ground champion hurdle?

WEEKEND EYE-CATCHERS

MARTINI MMAJESTY - ASCOT BUMPER SATURDAY

A close relative to TRUESHAN, MARTINI MAJESTY absolutely destroyed the field in Ascots mares’ bumper. She’s out of a half to TRUESHAN and by PLANTEUR herself making her three parts to him. An exciting one to follow for Alan King.

CABALLERO CLIFF - WINCANTON SATURDAY

We eyed up this lad all Saturday morning but simply couldn’t forgive his last few runs. His fourth in the champion bumper is epic form but has been a total flop since. It looks like a wind op has worked as he bolted up on the bridle for trainer Robert Stephens (we wonder if MUHAARAR’s are prone to wind issues? (we had a weapon who couldn’t breathe)). Had Robert sent this lad a couple more times we’d have thought they were trying to land a Cheltenham handicap with him but that was only his third run over hurdles making him ineligible.

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