Reaction to Jonbon’s Kingmaker win
Jonbon’s performance in winning a two-starter Kingmaker Novices’ Chase in Warwick divided opinion – including on the Sporting Life Racing Podcast panel.
Graham Cunningham was on track covering the meeting for Racing TV and had expected Nicky Henderson’s star to cement his position at the top of the Sporting Life Arkle market.
“Perhaps I am guilty of making the wish the father of the thought, but I went to Warwick hoping the kingmaker would show us the king who awaits in the novices’ hunting department. I was really, really excited about Jonbon,” he said.
“That’s why I was overwhelmed. There were mitigating circumstances. It was a two-runner race, Harry Skelton and Calico got him down the other side first and he finished on top.
“But it was a bit disconcerting to see him jump to the right, I wasn’t expecting that and he could be a lot straighter and more conventional in a bigger field with a strong canter and he’ll certainly get that in Sporting Life Arkle with people like Dysart dynamo inside.
“So I’m not going to let him down, I still think he could pass El Fabiolo but I’m not going to Cheltenham to back up 6/4 chances and I’ll probably look for each-way value between higher-priced horses and without the favorite markets here and there.
“But I’m sure Sandown’s performance is still the one Jonbon judges by where he beat Boothill in a very good time.”
Ed Chamberlin asked his ITV panel on Saturday whether Jonbon’s confusing Warwick win or El Fabiolo’s win against a strong field at Leopardstown was the better Cheltenham preparation. So where does he stand on that?
“Jonbon all day. I thought that racing in Ireland, and that’s just my way of thinking, has to leave a mark. What a brilliant Dysart Dynamo horse race starting at a million miles an hour. El Fabiolo plowed through fourth from bottom but it was still a brilliant performance but I would take him next time,” explained Chamberlin.
“I asked the question because I was surprised to see the reaction after the Kingmaker where some bookmakers settled El Fabiolo and 2/1 Jonbon for even money.
“Nicky Henderson wasn’t remotely concerned after that. It wasn’t the pie he’s had over fences so far, but I almost see it as a positive.
“I share GC’s concern that he’s jumping with his right hand. I asked Mick Fitzgerald about it during the race and he wasn’t too concerned, they just got the feeling he was loitering around at the time before Harry Skelton choked him inside and that’s when it got interesting.
“For a moment I really thought Jonbon was about to pull up. My heart was in my mouth, it was the ultimate relief when he came back and won the race.
“Go back a year and I think that race was far better than his prep for the Sky Bet Supreme. Because of this big clash, the Sporting Life Arkle will arguably be talked about more than any other race in the Cheltenham preview and I remain firmly in the Jonbon camp.”
Not Billy Nash, the timeform analyst and handicapper says: “I was absolutely blown away. I sat and watched it expecting a little show and hoping for just that, but we didn’t get that.
“I was wondering what would have happened if Harry Skelton had delayed his runner-up a bit? He stepped far home and had held Calico and pressed the button a little later. Would he have beaten Jonbon?
“It’s a moot point at this point, but overall I felt it was a pretty disappointing run from Jonbon. We know the class he has but I think I would be at El Fabiolo. OK he’s quite small now but I thought the performance at Leopardstown this season was the best of any inexperienced chaser in a great competition and he’s an improving horse.
“I felt like he would have beaten Jonbon at Aintree last year had it not been for that nasty mistake so clearly there isn’t much between them as of today. Both can make a mistake and I just feel like El Fabiolo has more room for improvement and I felt at the time his performance at Leopardstown was an Arkle winner.
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