Jonbon bidding to emulate Altior with Celebration treble

While most eyes are on the battle for the trainers’ championship, Jonbon is the undoubted equine star attraction at Sandown on Saturday as he bids to secure a third victory in the bet365 Celebration Chase.

Nicky Henderson’s crack chaser is unbeaten in five starts at the Esher venue and having successfully defended his Melling Chase crown at Aintree three weeks ago, the JP McManus-owned nine-year-old bids to sign off his season in style as Mark Walsh deputises for the injured Nico de Boinville.

“He takes his racing extremely well and has come out of Aintree, where he was given an excellent ride by Nico, in great shape,” Henderson said in his Unibet blog.

“Unfortunately, Nico’s not on board (on Saturday), but Mark has ridden for me before and rides all of JP’s in Ireland so it was a no-brainer for him to get the leg-up here. He came in and rode him on Wednesday, so has already had a feel of him, which is obviously a tick in the box.

“Jonbon is very uncomplicated, extremely professional and unbeaten around Sandown, so let’s hope he can add to his unblemished record.”

Henderson’s former superstar Altior is the only previous three-time winner of this contest, completing a hat-trick between 2017 and 2019.

Title-chasing Willie Mullins sent El Fabiolo to chase home Jonbon 12 months ago and takes aim at the Seven Barrows ace once again with his dual Champion Chase hero Energumene and Il Etait Temps.

Jonbon readily dispatched Energumene on good ground in the Clarence House Chase in January and the master of Closutton expects a similar outcome with conditions set to remain dry.

Mullins said: “I imagine the ground will be too quick for Energumene and unless the ground turns soft, which is not going to happen, then we are probably playing for place money.”

Meanwhile, Il Etait Temps won three times at Grade One level in novice company last term, but will make a belated first outing of the campaign having been sat on the sidelines due to a setback.

“It will be Il Etait Temps’ first run for 359 days. He’s been working well at home and you would rather run him at home (in Ireland), but it looks like he might get some nice place money all being well,” Mullins added.

Alan King’s Edwardstone is another standing dish in this division and seeks to better his third in this race 12 months ago, while Nigel Twiston-Davies’ Master Chewy drops back in trip to the distance he thrived over when winning the Game Spirit in February.

Harper’s Brook and Unexpected Party round off the seven going to post as they attempt to keep Dan Skelton’s title hopes alive, but the handler appreciates it could prove a stiff task.

He said: “They’re very legitimate runners in this race in an ordinary year, but Jonbon has turned up for the last two years and we’d never have a chance of beating him ever and then the masses come over – one of Willie’s has won a Champion Chase and the other is a multiple Grade One winner.

“We’re asking these horses unbelievable questions and I know they’ll run their best, but unfortunately even their absolute best is going to come up a little short. We’ve just got to hope the others do their bit!”