Jonbon On Course For Tingle Creek Defence After Grade 2 Win

Jonbon (8g Walk In The Park – Star Face, by Saint Des Saints) remains on target for the Tingle Creek after recording back-to-back runnings of the Grade 2 Shloer Chase at Cheltenham.

Nicky Henderson’s six-time Grade 1 winner was sent off favourite on his seasonal return on Friday and jumped well throughout, as he made all of the running under Nico de Boinville. Quickening approaching the turn for home, he was pushed along from the second last and was ridden out on the run-in to win by a length and a half.

“His jumping was as good as I've seen from him, which is great,” Henderson said. “He really enjoyed himself. I expect Nico will tell me he had a good blow between the last two and we now have three weeks until the Tingle Creek. That would be the perfect prep I would say.”

“I'm delighted with him,” the winning rider added. “The time he was going to be vulnerable was today as ours have been needing a run. He was very brave at the last and kept finding all the way. I think he was pulling away at the line.”

The JP McManus-owned bay is now a 15-time winner and three-time runner-up from 18 career starts. His first came by 15 lengths at Dromahane for Ellmarie Holden, after which he sold to McManus for £570,000.

Bred by Lotfi Kohli, the son of Walk In The Park is a full-brother to the top-class Douvan.