Bookmakers demoted Jonbon from Arkle Chase favouritism in response to his hard-fought success at Warwick.
Nicky Henderson's top novice was pushed out to 2-1 with most firms after he was given a real fright by sole rival Calico. The withdrawal of Haddex Des Obeaux, Jonbon's main opponent on the form book, appeared to give the 1-16 favourite a straightforward task.
But Calico, rated 23lb inferior, failed to read the script in the Grade 2 Virgin Bet Kingmaker Novices' Chase. A fluent leap at the fourth last fence carried him several lengths clear of the hot favourite, who set out to make the running.
Rounding the home turn, Jonbon clawed back the deficit and he cleared the final two fences to secure the first prize of just over £31,000.
The layers were unconvinced, putting the Willie Mullins-trained El Fabiolo (11-10) at the summit of the Arkle market. Just a neck separated the pair at Aintree last season – and Jonbon's connections were keen to look at the bigger picture.
"I’d say he was just ready to have a run and looked rusty, that’s all," said Sir AP McCoy, speaking on behalf of owner JP McManus. "The Arkle is in March and not today."
Drying ground denied fans the chance to see fellow Cheltenham Festival hopeful Love Envoi. Harry Fry pulled his stable star out of the Listed Virgin Bet Best Odds Daily Warwick Mares' Hurdle – and Henderson's Theatre Glory (4-7f) picked up the pieces.
Nico de Boinville's only ride of the day pulled 11 lengths clear of Molly Olly's Wishes. Fry will make alternative plans for Love Envoi, before she chases a double at March's jump racing spectacular.
"There's no rain forecast so there's no other prep options for her in the next week or so – we'll need to take her away for a gallop before Cheltenham,” he said.
At Newbury, Chris Gordon's double was headlined by Aucunrisque (9-1) in the Betfair Hurdle.
The gutsy front runner rewarded jockey Nick Scholfield after his lengthy injury battle.
"For me, it's better than winning any handicap at Cheltenham," Gordon said.
The stable's Annual Invictus (6-1), fourth in the 2021 renewal of the feature handicap, had earlier made all in the Betfair Multiples Offer Every Saturday Handicap Hurdle.
