Following a winning start to 2025 in the Clarence House Chase, many people are wondering what more we can expect from the exceptional Jonbon this season. He already boasts an impressive three wins from three this campaign and will take some beating next time he’s out on the track. Where might the Nicky Henderson runner wind up though and will he face any threat to his winning streak?
Clarence House Dominance
Before we start looking at what might be waiting in store for Jonbon, let us have a closer look at his Clarence House Chase performance at Ascot. Setting off as the 8/13 favourite, this was a race the French-bred horse was expected to win but some felt that 2023 Champion Chase winner Energumene could mount a serious challenge.
Despite some market backing for the 9/4 second favourite, Jonbon proved far too much for Energumene. As the pair cleared the penultimate fence, Jonbon accelerated away while the then narrowly trailing Energumene landed awkwardly and fell behind further. By the time of the final fence, Jonbon had got himself into a five-length lead which he comfortably extended to six-and-a-half by the finish.
Bar a slightly poor jump three out and a tendency to jump left on occasion, it was yet another excellent performance from Jonbon who practically led from start to finish. The victory further improved his commanding overall chase record to 12 wins and two runner-up finishes from 14 starts.
Champion Chase Awaits
Following his emphatic victory, Jonbon saw his odds for the Champion Chase cut from 2/1 to 5/4. He now comfortably leads the market ahead of Gaelic Warrior (3/1) and previous champion Energumene who has drifted to 10/1. A rematch is certainly a possibility but Energumene’s owner, Tony Bloom, stated that very soft ground would be needed to give his 11-year-old a credible shot of revenge. If the going is quicker, you are likely to see the Willie Mullins-trained horse swerve the prestigious two-mile contest.
Clarence House Chase winners have frequently found themselves in the Champion Chase given it is another Grade 1 chase event run over a very similar distance (just one furlong shorter). They have not performed especially well though as you can see from the table below so do not think Jonbon is a certainty for Cheltenham Festival success.
Year | Clarence House Chase Winner | Champion Chase Finish |
---|---|---|
2024 | Elixir De Nutz | PU |
2023 | Editeur Du Gite | 4th |
2022 | Shishkin | PU |
2021 | First Flow | 6th |
2020 | Defi Du Seuil | 4th |
2019 | Altior | 1st |
2018 | Un de Sceaux | 2nd in Ryanair Chase |
2017 | Un de Sceaux | 1st in Ryanair Chase |
2016 | Un de Sceaux | 2nd |
That said, despite this poor recent run of Clarence House winners, we would not want to bet against the nine-year-old.
What Else for Jonbon this Season?
An appearance in the Champion Chase in March will probably not be Jonbon’s final showing of the season. Nicky Henderson will likely want to give him another run-out, or possibly two, before the summer break. It would be no surprise to see Jonbon go for a third successive win in Sandown’s Celebration Chase in late April. If he can secure the hat-trick, he would join Altior as the most successful horse in the race’s relatively short history.
This is the only remaining minimum distance Grade 1 chase after the Champion Chase (excluding novice races). Despite this, and although it is a less common route for Clarence House Chase winners, the Melling Chase could well end up being a consideration again. Jonbon won the contest last year although he only did so by just over a length. This was partly due to a less than fluent display though, rather than the distance, so the £250,000 option will surely be a consideration. Should he run in this and/or the Celebration Chase, it is easy to picture him ending up victorious.
Will Jonbon Return Next Season?
Assuming Jonbon can stay fit and healthy, we would expect him to be in action again for the 2025/26 National Hunt season regardless of what happens in the Champion Chase. Currently nine years old, he should still be able to be competitive at the top level as a 10-year-old. The Clarence House Chase has two recent 10-year-old winners (Un De Sceaux in 2018, Elixir De Nut in 2024) while the Champion Chase also features the same (Sprinter Sacre in 2016, Special Tiara in 2017).