Nicky Henderson brushed off talk of a late run at the trainers’ title after Jonbon’s convincing six-and-a-half length defeat of Energumene in the Clarence House Chase on Saturday. There was the glint in his eye, though, of a fierce, inveterate competitor who can sense a tide may be starting to turn.
Henderson left with two more firm favourites for Grade One races at Cheltenham in March, as Jonbon’s win followed an easy success for Lulamba, Henderson’s main Triumph Hurdle contender, in the opener. If all goes to plan with Constitution Hill, the Champion Hurdle favourite, and Sir Gino, who heads the market for the Arkle Trophy, his Cheltenham squad promises to be the strongest from a British stable for several seasons.
Jonbon’s first meeting with Energumene in the card’s feature event did not deliver the high drama of Shishkin’s epic battle with Energumene in the same race three years ago, but it was a thoroughly professional and high-class performance by the odds-on favourite, who made all the running under Nico de Boinville.
Paul Townend edged Energumene to within striking distance with two fences to jump, aided by a sketchy jump from the leader three out, but an injection of speed between the final two obstacles allowed Jonbon to open a decisive lead and a bold jump at the last put the seal on victory.
Energumene bounced back from that narrow defeat by Shishkin to win the next two runnings of the Champion Chase, but there was little sense that a reversal of the form is imminent after Saturday’s race. Jonbon heads the market at around 5-4, while Energumene is out to 10-1 and the biggest threat to Jonbon, according to the betting at least, is last year’s Arkle Trophy winner, Gaelic Warrior, a stable companion of Energumene at the Willie Mullins yard.
“He is a genuine two-miler, going really forward all the time,” Henderson said. “At this big level, and the next one is the highest bar, that’s the way you’ve got to do it and I can’t see us doing anything different.”
Warwick 12.05 Lavender Hill Mob 12.35 That’s Nice 1.05 Mistress Emma 1.35 Leader In The Park 2.08 Warranty 2.40 Emma Hamilton 3.15 Always Busy (nap) 3.50 Lord Du Mesnil
Ayr 1.20 Green Sky 1.50 Helsgetaway 2.20 Primoz 2.52 Golden Maverick 3.27 Ilikedwayurthinkin 4.02 Powerofjet
Kempton 2.00 Pure Angel 2.30 Blue Laced 3.05 Stella Hogan 3.40 Fireblade 4.15 Mccauley’s Tavern 4.45 Alshimali 5.15 Bank On Kent 5.45 Piranha Rama 6.15 G’daay
Wolverhampton 5.00 H Key Lails (nb) 5.30 Esticky End 6.00 Gogo Yubari 6.30 Chartwell Jock 7.00 Pessoa 7.30 Manton Road 8.00 Kaleidoscope Eyes 8.30 State Of Madness
Sean Graham, racing manager to Energumene’s owner, Tony Bloom, did not rule out a rematch with Jonbon in the Champion Chase, but felt that soft or even heavy ground may be necessary to give the 11-year-old a realistic chance.
“We probably just need to pick our battles and have the right conditions and that would mean very soft ground,” Graham said. “If it came up heavy at Cheltenham, like it did last year, you’d maybe have a pop, but Willie and Paul will make up their minds where he goes next.”
Henderson’s recent French import Lulamba had earlier made short work of a useful field in the opening juvenile hurdle. Having been backed down to 4-1 favourite (from 12-1) over the past 10 days for the Triumph Hurdle in March without having jumped a British obstacle in public, he is now top-priced at 7-4 for the opening race on Gold Cup day.
Lulamba, who was sent off at 4-5, was giving 10lb to Mondo Man, the 15-8 second-favourite, but ran out an easy three-and-a-half length winner. “I was prepared to get beaten because of all the hype and the weight we were giving away,” Henderson said, “but I’ve got to eat humble pie here and say the hype appears to be correct.
“He’s a bit in the Sir Gino bracket, as he had won his only start in France and we had to go on with him. He’s just a beautiful horse. We have a lot to look forward to.”
