BON RESULT
But Coleman’s mount is no longer Arkle favourite
NICKY HENDERSON vowed to “look on the bright side” of Jonbon’s Cheltenham Festival trial that saw the sevenyear-old deposed as the Arkle Challenge Trophy favourite.
Victory in Warwick’s Grade 2 Virgin Bet Kingmaker Novices’ Chase looked a formality for Aidan Coleman’s mount, a 1-16 chance in the betting ring following the defection of two of his three declared opponents.
But Harry Skelton played the role of disruptor on sole rival Calico, dashing into a four-length lead at the halfway point of the two-mile test.
Momentarily ejected from his comfort zone, the JP McManus-owned Jonbon regained the lead at the second-last of the 12 fences, but his five-anda-half-length win was anything but easy on the eye.
Bookmakers cut Willie Mullins’ El Fabiolo to even-money from 2-1 at the head of the Arkle market, easing Jonbon from 11-10 favourite to 2-1 second choice.
“It was a very strange race, but I’m going to look on the bright side at the moment,” said trainer Henderson.
“The other one suddenly went and took him by surprise.
“I’m not saying that he took Aidan by surprise – he took the horse by surprise. He wasn’t concentrating, and suddenly Muhammad Ali came in and gave him a thump round the ears.
“I’m going to look at the positives until I’ve spoken to anybody that gives me a negative, and say, ‘Good, that’ll wake you up!’”
Henderson added: “It was a tactical affair, but at least he found a way.” At Newbury, Aucunrisque and jockey Nick Scholfield foiled a gamble on Irish raider and 4-1 market leader Filey Bay to give Chris Gordon the biggest success of his training career in the Betfair Hurdle.
“This race meant a lot to me growing up – it was the old Schweppes Hurdle,” said Gordon, whose son Freddie had scored on the stable’s Annual Invictus earlier on the card.
“I always thought it was a race won by the clever trainers – but now I’ve proved that completely wrong!”
Philip Hobbs saddled his 3,000th winner as Zanza beat 9-4 favourite Hitman to spring a 16-1 shock in the Grade 2 Denman Chase.
“It’s taken a long time to do it, but it’s very satisfying,” reflected Hobbs, who revealed he will train on a joint-licence with assistant Johnson White “probably before the end of the season”.
Hitman’s handler Paul Nicholls was represented by 1-2 hotpot Greaneteen in the Grade 2 Game Spirit Chase, but Harry Cobden’s partner could manage just third place as Funambule Sivola took the honours at 7-1.