Jonbon may be seen by many as a banker in the Champion Chase this year, but Paddy Brennan is not so sure and believes there is one outsider who could make life difficult for the favourite at Cheltenham.
Nicky Henderson’s star made it 17 wins from 20 starts earlier this month with a stunning victory over dual Champion Chase hero Energumene in the Clarence House at Ascot.
That cemented Jonbon at the top of the betting for the Wednesday feature at the Cheltenham Festival, a race he missed last year as Henderson’s Seven Barrows yard was hit by illness.
Jockey Nico de Boinville dominated from the front in the four-runner contest at Ascot, but his former weighing-room rival Brennan thinks things will be tougher in March.
Speaking on the Unbridled podcast, Brennan said: “I look at Jonbon and I thought it was a brilliant ride in a race like that with four runners where he is able to dictate.
“Come the Champion Chase, it won’t be as easy for him. If he’s ever beatable, it will be that day.
“With the likes of Matata and Il Est Francais, it’s going to be a different ball game.
Matata in winning action at the Winter Million festival at Windsor
“I was impressed with Matata [at Windsor] and someone like him in the Champion Chase could be something that Jonbon doesn’t need.
“When you look at Jonbon’s race at Cheltenham when he got beat, he’s got to go and prove himself. Even when he won the Shloer, he didn’t look unbeatable.”
Brennan’s one to follow…
Brennan also highlighted another horse for the tracker from a yard he knows very well – Fergal O’Brien’s.
Siog Geal looks like a talented young mare, finishing strongly behind one of Brennan’s previous eyecatchers Jubilee Alpha at the Winter Million meeting.
Jubilee Alpha heads to victory at Windsor with eyecatcher Siog Geal back in fourth
“Sometimes you’ve got to pick horses out for the future and Siog Geal looks like one,” Brennan said.
“A lot was against her – ground and trip – at Windsor but in handicaps moving forward, something like the EBF Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle Final at Newbury, she’d be one to stay on the right side of.
“I loved the way she hit the line in a very competitive race.”
On Jubilee Alpha, Brennan said: “She was good at Windsor but, as Paul Nicholls said, that was just 20 days after Taunton.
“She’s got a lovely bit of time now before Cheltenham and she’s definitely got a massive chance in the Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle.
“I love the way she goes about it and jumps. Most of all, she’ll come up that Cheltenham hill.”
