Jonbon Adds Grade 2 To Unbeaten Chase Record

All roads lead to Cheltenham for Jonbon (7g Walk In The Park - Star Face, by Saint Des Saints) after Nicky Henderson’s dual Grade 1 winner extended his unbeaten chase record in the Grade 2 Kingmaker Novices’ Chase.

A Grade 1 winner last time out, the JP McManus-owned bay was sent off favourite under Aidan Coleman at Warwick on Saturday. Shaken up after the third last, he led before the next and drew clear on the run-in to win by five and a half lengths.

The Arkle Chase is next on the agenda for Jonbon, who has won all but one of his career starts. The five-time Graded winner began his career with Ellmarie Holden, for whom he won a four-year-old maiden impressively, before selling to JP McManus £570,000. Bred by Lotfi Kohli, the full-brother to Douvan (Walk In The Park) previously lit up the sales ring when fetching €140,000 at the store sales.

At Naas earlier that afternoon, JP McManus enjoyed another winner when the Mrs Noreen McManus-bred Spillane’s Tower (5g Walk In The Park - In The Habit, by Duke Of Marmalade) won the maiden hurdle in good style.

Jimmy Mangan’s charge was narrowly denied on his first start of the season and enjoyed a form boost when the winner finished a close second at Grade 3 level next time out. Stepping up to two miles and three furlongs on Saturday, he was ridden by Luke Dempsey, who delivered him at the final flight and went on to win by two lengths and three quarters.

“Spillane’s Tower is a nice horse and he will be better next year,” the winning trainer said after the race.