All manner of problems have been trying Nicky Henderson’s patience over the past couple of weeks, from snow and rain to a stable star that refused to race, but while he was forced to scratch Constitution Hill and Shishkin from the card here on Saturday, the ever-dependable Jonbon did at least complete his pre-Christmas schedule with a comfortable success in the Grade One Tingle Creek Chase.
With four runners going to post and the favourite priced up at 30-100, this was clearly a race that was Jonbon’s to lose and Nico de Boinville wisely kept his mount’s natural exuberance in check through the first mile and a half as Haddex Des Obeaux set a fair pace in the conditions. He was clearly going much the best on the run to the second-last, however, and eased home by two and three-quarter lengths after taking charge at the last.
“It was essential to try and keep your powder a bit dry today,” Henderson said. “He is an attacker and you can really let him rip, but that would be a bit dangerous in these conditions.
“When you are 3-1 on or something, you are quite pleased when it is over. His jumping was good and it was proper Sandown two-mile chasing, just in very slow ground, which was tough for them all.”
This was the fifth Grade One win of Jonbon’s 14-race career and his 12th victory in all, with his only defeats coming in Grade One events at the Cheltenham Festival. The latest of those was a five-and-a-half-length defeat by El Fabiolo, the favourite for the Queen Mother Champion Chase, in the Arkle Trophy nine months ago. A return to the Festival for a potential rematch with Willie Mullins’s chaser – who is due to make his seasonal debut at Cork on Sunday – is now the main item on Jonbon’s itinerary.
“Possibly he wasn’t at his best at Cheltenham last season, but take nothing away from El Fabiolo,” Henderson said. “We have got a fair bit to find, but we did beat him in a Grade One hurdle the season before, so it is one-all.
“The obvious ones [for Jonbon] in the meantime are the Game Spirit [at Newbury] and Clarence House [at Ascot] and then we will meet him in March.”
Huntingdon: 11.55 Burrows Hall, 12.25 Royal Thunder, 12.55 Junkanoo, 1.25 Karaktere D’Enfer, 1.55 First Flow (nb), 2.25 Javert Allen, 2.55 Rula Bula, 3.25 Motion In Limine.
Kelso: 12.05 Valleyview Tommy, 12.35 Gentleman De Mai, 1.05 Inedit Star, 1.35 Tiger Orchid, 2.05 Dangan Cloud, 2.35 Baron Briggs, 3.05 Duyfken.
Wolverhampton: 1.20 Diamondsinthesand, 1.50 Frightening, 2.20 Nellie French, 2.50 Blue Hawaii, 3.20 Mr Trick, 3.50 Eagle Day (nap), 4.20 Aclaim To Fame, 4.50 Water Of Leith.
Constitution Hill and Shishkin will now head to the Christmas Festival at Kempton Park without a run, which in the case of Shishkin in particular was very much not Henderson’s intention. The Grade One-winning chaser refused to race at Ascot a fortnight ago and the trainer was then frustrated by the cold snap when he hoped to run him at Newcastle last Saturday instead.
“We had to make very difficult decisions last night and this morning, but there was no way any horse could come here and then run 16 days later, on Boxing Day,” Henderson said.
“We’ve said the whole way through that I don’t see how you can win the King George first time out, but what do we do? Where on earth could you go? The start at Ascot was a catastrophe really. Not only did it cost him quite a valuable race, but it’s cost him the whole prep.”
Ayr: 11.50 La Quarite, 12.20 Joshua Des Flos, 12.50 President Scottie, 1.20 Ned Tanner, 1.50 Ballycoose, 2.20 Dangan Cloud, 2.50 Aubis Walk, 3.20 Duyfken
Lingfield Park:12.35 Head Over Hinds, 1.05 Jeune Belle, 1.35 Tommy Dillion, 2.05 Chandlers Bay, 2.35 Moonlighter, 3.05 Colonial Empire, 3.35 Heaven Smart
Chelmsford City: 5.00 Tranquillity, 5.30 Battleofbaltimore, 6.00 Mrs Morrell, 6.30 Persian Blue, 7.00 One For The Ladies, 7.30 Hieronymus (nb), 8.00 Got No Dollars, 8.30 Phantasy Mac (nap)
In Constitution Hill’s absence, the veteran Not So Sleepy – who dead-heated for the Fighting Fifth in its traditional home at Newcastle two seasons ago – recorded the first outright Grade One win of his career at the age of 11. Not So Sleepy was the 9-1 outsider of the four runners, but stayed on strongly to beat Love Envoi by eight lengths.
“I suppose you could see why Nicky didn’t want to turn up,” Hughie Morrison, the winner’s trainer, said, with tongue parked firmly in cheek. “He is a legend, an absolutely unique horse. He runs away with his jockey every day, and we can’t take him to half the gallops as he will plant himself, but he was in the mood today.”
Gary Moore has often said Sandown is his favourite course and the Sussex trainer further improved his track record with a double on the card, including a 16-1 success for Le Patron in the Grade One Henry VIII Novice Chase.
“It’s the best course in the country,” he said, “especially when you get a horse that jumps like he does. It’s a great spectacle.”
