Jonbon is officially better than ever and thinking he won’t win at Cheltenham because of the track is nonsense

IT’S official. Jonbon ran the champion contention of his beingness astatine Ascot connected Saturday successful the Grade 1 Clarence House, signaling a people of 171 for the archetypal time.

That’s what I tin archer you acknowledgment to assistance from the authoritative handicappers Chris Nash and Mark Olley. It’s appreciated, lads.

Now the question is tin helium tally to 171 astatine Cheltenham?

Many professionals retired determination volition proceed to archer you the prima two-mile chaser - trained brilliantly by Nicky Henderson - is amended going right-handed than left, the mode helium volition person to spell to onshore the biggest trial of them each for his type, the 2025 Queen Mother Champion Chase.

The contiguous cliche thrown astatine america each is that Jonbon can’t beryllium arsenic bully left-handed arsenic helium has lone ever been beaten - astatine Grade 1 level astatine slightest - astatine Cheltenham.

But that is simply a load of b******* successful my opinion.

I’ve looked intimately astatine this before, but let's conscionable spell done things again.

Jonbon’s past decision came successful the 2024 Clarence House astatine Cheltenham successful which helium astir fell 4 out.

To suggest that was due to the fact that of the way alternatively than conscionable ‘an error’ is ridiculous.

Added to which contempt the horrific mistake helium battled connected ace bravely.

Prior to that helium was denied by El Fabiolo successful the Grade 1 Arkle Trophy.

It’s worthy remembering that time El Fabiolo was the 11-10 favorite, and was unbeaten implicit fences for Willie Mullins.

Added to which, El Fabiolo’s lone erstwhile decision for Mullins was erstwhile 2nd to Jonbon astatine left-handed Aintree!

Jonbon’s archetypal decision astatine Cheltenham came successful the Grade 1 Supreme Novices’ Hurdle erstwhile destroyed similar each different equine by Constitution Hill.

How anyone tin look done that and deliberation he’s doesn’t header left-handed is beyond me.

Official handicap marks - precocious of a accordant 170 - besides suggest helium runs to the aforesaid people whichever mode helium goes.

When helium won the Grade 2 Shloer Chase astatine Cheltenham successful 2023 Jonbon was rated 166. He was upped 4lb for the show to 170.

Jonbon mightiness not triumph the 2025 Champion Chase. But immoderate proposition it’s due to the fact that of the way is utter nonsense.

A large outcry retired to Top Ville Ben who was retired this week astatine the property of 13 having won 9 races and tally 46 times.

I would reason his biggest occurrence came successful the Grade 3 Rowland Meyrick astatine Wetherby successful 2019.

He was besides 2nd successful a Grade 2 Rendlesham and 3rd successful a Grade 1 Mildmay Novices’ Chase astatine Aintree.

Top Ville Ben, trained mostly by Phil Kirby but primitively by Nicky Henderson and lately by Jennie Candlish, was ace pugnacious and loved mud.

John McInerney, portion of the radical that owned him, said connected X: "Top Ville Ben took america everyplace we dreamed of. Hard to pinpoint his champion day, but seeing him walk america going retired for the last thigh of the Grand National was peculiar (eventually pulled up down Noble Yeats).

"Huge acknowledgment to trainers, jockeys and unit that got him to status safely."

A warrior. Well done Top Ville Ben.

/racin