Jonbon, one of the star attractions of current National Hunt racing, is a regular favourite in the online horse racing betting. However, his name has garnered both admiration and scepticism among racing pundits and enthusiasts alike.
The eight-year-old has a stellar record, securing an array of high-profile victories at the top level, yet the debate lingers—is the Nicky Henderson-trained horse’s reputation inflated beyond his true capabilities?
Jonbon’s career highlights
Jonbon’s CV is remarkable. Owned by the esteemed JP McManus, he boasts an incredible record of 16 wins in 19 starts under rules, while never finishing outside the top two with three seconds.
His recent Tingle Creek success at Sandown, winning the prestigious race for a second time when readily beating Quilixios by eight lengths, marked his eighth-career Grade 1 triumph.
Jonbon has also enjoyed multiple Grade 2 successes, notably winning the Cheltenham Chase at the November Meeting for the last two years, and the Virgin Bet Kingmaker Novices’ Chase in 2023.
Arguments for Jonbon being overrated
While Jonbon’s won pretty much all the top races in his division, with the exclusion of the Cheltenham Festival’s Queen Mother Champion Chase—which he’s the favourite to win in March—the main argument for him being overrated is his lack of competition.
His opposition usually includes the likes of the Edwardstone and Boothill, and while Alan King’s and Harry Fry’s charges are Graded winners in their own rights, with all due respect, they certainly aren’t elite competition by any means.
Then there is the manner in which Jonbon goes about his business. He doesn’t always win as comfortably as you’d like given what he is up against, like only narrowly beating Boothill on reappearance this season and even losing to 22/1 shot Elixir De Nutz in the Clarence House Chase.
Arguments against Jonbon being overrated
Of course, just like in any sport, Jonbon can only beat what is put in front of him. And, often, he does that with great aplomb.
His convincing victory over old rival El Fabiolo in the Grade 1 Celebration Chase at Sandown in April, beating Willie Mullins’ well-fancied odds-on runner by four lengths at the seasonal finale, was proof that he can take on elite chasers when given the chance.
It’s also difficult to make a strong case for Jonbon’s overrated status when you factor in his record, which we discussed at the start of this article. Being consistent enough to win that many races, especially at Grade 1 level, is hard to argue against, regardless of who lined up.
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Henderson’s stable jockey and Jonbon’s regular rider Nico de Boinville summed it up recently, stating: “I think he’s the real deal now, the finished article, ready to answer any questions we ask him, which is what he’s been doing.
“He always just does enough and I think that will work in his favour in the long term. For a horse like him, who’s not flashy or exuberant, the longevity is what will define him in the end.”
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