Punters fear for Jonbon after footage of his jumping emerges just two weeks before Cheltenham

2 months ago 28

PUNTERS were fearing for Jonbon’s Champion Chase hopes after footage emerged of him schooling under Nicky Henderson.

Nico de Boinville insisted the £570,000 JP McManus-owned runner was ‘very accurate’ jumping fences at Seven Barrows.

Jonbon looked very keen as he made his way to one of the schooling fences[/caption]

He slowed down into it and didn’t appear to jump it with 100 per cent precision[/caption]

But a number of viewers were unimpressed by what looked at least one very tentative jump less than two weeks out from the big race.

Jonbon is currently 3-1 second fav to see off red-hot 1-2 market leader El Fabiolo on March 13.

Henderson’s charge was beaten comprehensively into second last year by Willie Mullins’ runner when they went head-to-head in the Arkle.

Jonbon was poor when getting turned over at 1-4 by Elixir De Nutz in the rearranged Clarence House Chase on Cheltenham Trials Day last month.

Respected racing commentator Mike Cattermole was among those voicing his opinion after At The Races posted a video of Jonbon’s slightly sketchy jumping.

He wrote: “Think he’ll need to jump better than that!”

While one punter said: “Have the bookies paid out on El Fabiolo yet?”

Another wrote: “Wouldn’t like what he did at the second here at all.”

And a third said: “Snatched at the second and got out-jumped at all of them. Apart from that, looks great.”

Henderson, 73, is still reeling from Constitution Hill’s dismal Kempton workout earlier this week.

The unbeaten superstar’s odds of defending his Champion Hurdle crown rocketed after he was found to have mucus in his airway.

Henderson issued an update on the horse’s condition yesterday and they face a crucial 24 hours now in his race to be fit in time.

Constitution Hill will be scoped again on Friday morning.

If his infection has cleared up enough then there is still every chance he could make day one of the Festival.

But legendary trainer Henrietta Knight thinks it’s unlikely either way.

She told the Racing Post: “I think it would be a miracle if Constitution Hill was back on his best form in two weeks having had an infection and having antibiotics.

“But then maybe he’s a superhorse.

“Think of it in human terms, if you’ve been on antibiotics you’re not at your best for a bit, and then a horse has got to take all the work in before the race.

“It’s such a desperate shame, but I’m sort of working on the basis that he won’t be there, in which case it’s State Man’s race.”