A foot-perfect Jonbon (Nicky Henderson/Nico de Boinville) began his season successfully on Friday as he retained his title in the Grade 2 Shloer Chase.

The seven-time Grade 1 victor led from pillar to post in Prestbury Park’s feature contest to net a second win in the race, with Boothill (Harry Fry/Bryan Carver) and Edwardstone (Alan King/Tom Cannon) next across the line.

Approaching the last fence, Douvan’s younger full-brother had rivals snapping at his heels, but a slick final leap and a powerful effort up the hill sealed the deal.

“He was foot-perfect there,” a pleased Henderson said. “You won’t see a better round of jumping, will you?

“It’s a good start. He was exactly the same weight here as he was this time last year.

“We know some of ours have been needing their first runs, but we know where we are because it is only three weeks until the Tingle Creek.”

Looking ahead

That date with destiny at Sandown in the Grade 1 Tingle Creek Chase is Jonbon’s next assignment, a race he won by two and three quarter lengths last year.

The eight-year-old has won off 14, 15, and 21-day turnarounds before, so the 22-day break until this year’s Tingle Creek will not worry connections.

Henderson continued: “As J.P. [McManus, owner] said at the end of last season, we are a two-miler, and we’ll stay at two miles. All being well, it will be the Tingle Creek and then the Clarence House – the normal route. I’d be surprised if we vary it.”

Friday’s success continued de Boinville’s faultless record with Jonbon as the pair made it six from six together, a streak that started with his debut bumper success at Newbury in March 2021.

Much like his boss, the experienced rider expects him to come on for his first run of the season, so a winning start to the campaign is pleasing.

“I am delighted with him,” said de Boinville. “The time he was going to be vulnerable was today as ours have been needing a run.

“We didn’t set off at mad fractions and I didn’t want to be really aggressive on him. He was very brave at the last and kept finding all the way. I think he was pulling away at the line.

“He is a fantastic horse, and I’m delighted.”

Jonbon remained as the 3/1 favourite with Paddy Power for the Queen Mother Champion Chase at the Cheltenham Festival in March.

WILLY Twiston-Davies, assistant trainer to his dad Nigel, has always had a soft spot for Potters Charm, and that faith was rewarded with an impressive victory in the Grade 2 Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle.

Ridden by Sam Twiston-Davies, the £105,000 purchase remained perfect under rules to beat Valgrand (Dan Skelton/Harry Skelton), last month’s facile Grade 2 Sky Bet Novices’ Hurdle winner, by 11 lengths.

Friday saw him step up to 2m5f for the first time, and despite falling short of Valgrand in the jumping department, he handled the extra furlong with ease.

“He’s just very, very naturally talented,” Willy Twiston-Davies said. “I said that he jumped brilliantly, and Sam said he’ll get better again.

“Sam said that Valgrand was jumping exceptionally well, so our lad really sharpened up his jumping from last time.

“For him to do that on that quicker ground, I can’t wait to see what he’ll do on ground with a bit of a dig in it.”

Options open

After his first success over hurdles at Worcester in September, the assistant trainer said that the “long-term target will be the Grade 1 Challow Novices’ Hurdle”, and that plan is still on the table. However, depending on the ground, a switch to Aintree on Boxing Day might occur instead.

He continued: “We’ll let the dust settle, but it will either be the Challow or we could drop back to two miles for the Tolworth if it was heavy ground.

“We’ve got to work back from the Festival now and get him there in the best shape possible.

“He showed speed there, didn’t he? He’s won very well over two miles and five furlongs on good ground, so it’s got to be the Gallagher for the Cheltenham Festival you’d imagine. The Albert Bartlett can be a bit of a graveyard for horses over three miles and I don’t think he’ll be slogging around just yet.”