Jonbon to make perfect start

JONBON is taken to come out on top in a fascinating early-season clash between three potentially smart novice chasers at Warwick.

Nicky Henderson’s Supreme Novices’ Hurdle runner-up faces Paul Nicholls’ Monmiral, a gallant second to Epatante in the Aintree Hurdle, and Dan Skelton’s West Cork, winner of the Greatwood Hurdle last season, in the Highflyer Bloodstock Novices’ Chase.

But if any of the three are potential Arkle winners then surely it is Jonbon.

Bought to be a chaser, much has been written about his £570,000 price tag but that is no fault of his.

A large portion of it is down to the fact he is Douvan’s brother, but he did also win a point-to-point in effortless fashion.

His season over hurdles would have been exemplary - apart from the fact his stablemate Constitution Hill looks a bit of a freak.

But in any case, if you take him out of the Supreme, then Jonbon would have won by 24 lengths himself.

He gained his own Grade One at Aintree, beating Willie Mullins’ El Fabiolo narrowly, but the suspicion was Jonbon had done enough by that time of the campaign and hopefully he can reach the top over fences.

Neil King has been waiting patiently to take the wraps off his new stable star Lookaway and finally gets the chance in the Derek Bridge Memorial Novices’ Hurdle.

An Irish point winner, he won on his debut for King at Newbury and then went to the Grade Two bumper at the Grand National meeting.

Up against the might of Mullins, Nicholls and Henderson, Lookaway looked potentially top class in winning by two lengths.

Nicky Richards has always thought the world of Crystal Glory and he can begin to repay that faith now over fences in the Weatherbys nhstallions. co.uk Novices’ Chase at Hexham.

Winner of two point-to-points and his first two novice hurdles, he ended the season chasing home Hillcrest at Haydock and finishing fourth to Gelino Bello in Grade One company.