A victory at the festival is the only notable omission from the remarkably consistent Jonbon’s racing record and he will be a heavy favourite to finally make it into the winner’s enclosure when he lines up for the Queen Mother Champion Chase on Wednesday.
Jonbon has been beaten just three times in 20 career starts and all three defeats were at Cheltenham, but he ran out an easy winner of the Shloer Chase over track and trip in November and has plenty in hand of his opposition on ratings.
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He also saw off Energumene, the winner of this race in 2022 and 2023, with something to spare at Ascot in January and while Marine Nationale, the Supreme winner over hurdles in 2023, is an interesting and fresh opponent, he would need to step up significantly on his form over fences to date to stand any chance against an in-form Jonbon (4.00).
Cheltenham 1.20 Another Willie Mullins-trained favourite for a novice hurdle to set the ball rolling on day two of the Festival, and like Kopek Des Bordes, Tuesday’s Supreme Novice Hurdle winner, Final Demand surged to the top of the market after a convincing win at the Dublin Racing Festival in February. He faces worthy opponents in The New Lion and The Yellow Clay, both also unbeaten over hurdles, but the former’s win in the Challow at Newbury was possibly more style than substance while The Yellow Clay’s best form is on much softer ground.
Cheltenham 2.00 An all-Irish affair for the second Grade One novice chase, and Ballyburn should take all the beating having won the two-mile-five Grade One at the DRF last month. He was a close second jumping the last but well on top and going further clear with every stride at the post, so this step up to three miles looks sure to bring further improvement.
Cheltenham 2.40 A full field of 26 runners for the Coral Cup poses a fearsome challenge for punters, with strong cases to be made for Be Aware, Impose Toi and Bunting among others. Harry Fry’s lightly raced Beat The Bat, though, could prove to be the pick of the early prices at around 14-1. He posted an excellent effort here as a novice in December 2023, made eye-catching late headway in the William Hill Handicap Hurdle at Newbury last time and looks certain to improve for the return to this trip.
Cheltenham 3.20 A return to handicap conditions for the festival’s cross-country event and Stumptown, a cosy winner over course and distance at the December meeting, looks a fair bet to follow up from an 8lb higher mark.
Cheltenham 4.40 Dan Skelton has few peers when it comes to preparing a runner for a handicap at this meeting and Unexpected Party, successful off a 6lb lower mark last year, could well emulate the stable’s Langer Dan, a dual Coral Cup winner, by returning to register a second successive win in a festival handicap.
Huntingdon: 12.28 Early Morning Dew 12.58 Dark Mix 1.38 Not So Sobers 2.18 Imperial Jade 2.58 Greenways 3.38 Cloudy Wednesday 4.18 Naval Tribute.
Cheltenham: 1.20 Final Demand 2.00 Ballyburn 2.40 Beat The Bat (nap) 3.20 Stumptown (nb) 4.00 Jonbon 4.40 Unexpected Party 5.20 Bambino Fever.
Wolverhampton: 4.55 Rhythm N Hooves 5.30 Shamardia 6.00 Marhaba Ghaiyyath 6.30 Init Together 7.00 Kaaranah 7.30 Light Up Our Stars 8.00 Bungle Bay 8.30 Zooks.
Newcastle: 5.05 Show No Fear 5.45 Too Much 6.15 Dc Cogent 6.45 Wondrous Ways 7.15 Broken Spear 7.45 Henery Hawk 8.15 Tasever.
Cheltenham 5.20 Willie Mullins has a typically strong hand for the festival’s Bumper as he looks for a record-extending 14th win, including warm favourite, Copacabana. Just one of the last eight started favourite, however, and unbeaten Bambino Fever, with Jody Townend taking the reins, is an interesting alternative at around 8-1 for a minor upset.
