Jonbon: everything you need to know about this key Cheltenham Festival contender

Jonbon is one of the top chasers in National Hunt (jump) racing at the moment. Here, we find out a little bit more about him ahead of the Cheltenham Festival (11–14 March 2025).

1. Jonbon is a nine-year-old gelding (born on 18 April 2016).

2. He is owned by JP McManus, who is a prolific owner in the world of horseracing and his horses run in the easily recognisable green and gold colours.

3. He was bred by Lofti Kohli in France.

4. Jonbon is by Walk In The Park and out of the mare Star Face (by Saint Des Saints), who is also the mother of Douvan, who was a multiple Grade One-winning National Hunt horses, earning £609,835 during his career when trained by Willie Mullins.

5. Jonbon made headlines when he set a new auction record at the time, selling for a whopping £570,000 at the Goffs Yorton Sale on 12 November 2021.

6. He is trained by top British trainer Nicky Henderson.

7. Jonbon’s form is impressive – he has won 17 of his 20 starts under Rules and finished second on the other three occasions. He also won his sole point-to-point in Ireland prior to his sale.

8. He has amassed over £1.113m in prize money to-date.

9. He has won nine Grade One races, and specialises running in two-mile chases.

10. He is currently the favourite to win the Queen Mother Champion Chase on the Wednesday of the Cheltenham Festival after his decisive Clarence House Chase success at Ascot in January 2025, where he brushed aside Willie Mullins’ Energumene.

11. He will be ridden by Nico De Boinville at Cheltenham. He was ridden by Aidan Coleman to most of his early career victories until Aidan suffered a career-ending injury.

Keep up-to-date with all of Horse & Hound’s Cheltenham coverage this week via horseandhound.co.uk, where you will be able to read all of the latest news and features surrounding The Festival.

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