All posts by 234Radio

Jonbon made it back-to-back victories in the Clarence House Chase at Ascot as favourite Il Etait Temps fell at the second-to-last fence.

Drama before the start saw James Bowen take Jonbon’s saddle after intended rider Harry Cobden had to be assessed for injury following an earlier race.

In a four-horse field, Jonbon swept clear of Thistle Ask as the pair headed towards the finish line.

Jonbon’s trainer, Nicky Henderson, admitted he had not expected the 10-year-old to take victory as they approached the final stretch of the Grade One two-miler, but he believed stamina helped him.

Speaking to ITV, he said: “I came in here thinking his record of never being out of the first two was under big threat. I really did fear that.

“He was amazing. That was an end-to-end gallop. It seemed to test them all. I thought he was beaten three out, but then he keeps going.

“He was a very fast horse. Now he’s not as fast as he was, but his stamina kicks in. He’s got older legs, but he’s brave, he jumps.

“You’ve got to be proud of him. That was a brave boy to come and do that.”

He was unsure, though, when asked whether Jonbon would now be a Cheltenham Champion Chase contender.

“I’d love to be trying him over further [distances], but things have invariably gone wrong [when I have],” Henderson said.

Gidleigh Park pulled up with six fences to go, but a fall for Il Etait Temps proved a bigger shock.

As favourite Il Etait Temps fell at the second-to-last fence, Jonbon claimed back-to-back victories in the Clarence House Chase at Ascot.

After intended rider Harry Cobden had to be evaluated for injury following a previous race, James Bowen took Jonbon’s saddle before the start.

As the pair crossed the finish line, Jonbon was able to avoid Thistle Ask in a four-horse field.

Nicky Henderson, Jonbon’s trainer, acknowledged that he did not anticipate the 10-year-old to win the Grade One two-mile race as they approached the final stretch, but that he believed his determination helped him.

He said, “I came in here thinking his record of never leaving the first two was seriously in danger.” That was a real concern to me.

He was fantastic. That was a complete jerk. They all appeared to be tested. He continued even though I believed he had been defeated three times.

He ran very quickly, he said. He now accelerates more quickly than he did before, but his stamina builds. He jumps, but he has older legs and is brave.

You must be proud of him, he says. That boy had to step up and do that, a brave man.

When asked if Jonbon would now be a Cheltenham Champion Chase contender, he was unsure.

Although “I’d love to be trying him over further distances,” Henderson said, “But things always go wrong [when I have].”

Gidleigh Park made it with six fences to go when Il Etait Temps fell behind.

As favourite Il Etait Temps fell at the second-to-last fence, Jonbon claimed back-to-back victories in the Clarence House Chase at Ascot.

After intended rider Harry Cobden had to be evaluated for injury following a previous race, James Bowen took Jonbon’s saddle before the start.

As the pair crossed the finish line, Jonbon was able to avoid Thistle Ask in a four-horse field.

Nicky Henderson, Jonbon’s trainer, acknowledged that he did not anticipate the 10-year-old to win the Grade One two-mile race as they approached the final stretch, but that he believed his determination helped him.

He said, “I came in here thinking his record of never leaving the first two was seriously in danger.” That was a real concern to me.

He was fantastic. That was a complete jerk. They all appeared to be tested. He continued even though I believed he had been defeated three times.

He ran very quickly, he said. He now accelerates more quickly than he did before, but his stamina builds. He jumps, but he has older legs and is brave.

You must be proud of him, he says. That boy had to step up and do that, a brave man.

When asked if Jonbon would now be a Cheltenham Champion Chase contender, he was unsure.

Although “I’d love to be trying him over further distances,” Henderson said, “But things always go wrong [when I have].”

Gidleigh Park made it with six fences to go when Il Etait Temps fell behind.