There’s a real superstar set to line up at Sandown on Saturday afternoon as Jonbon bids for a third consecutive Celebration Chase at 3:35pm and the Nicky Henderson-trained star is a red-hot favourite to retain his crown for a third year in a row. We take a look at the Grade 1 2m contest and pick out our 1-2-3 for the contest.
JONBON
(Mark Walsh/Nicky Henderson)
18 wins and four seconds in 22 career races is an astonishing record and Jonbon‘s brilliance in recent seasons has propelled him to elite status in the National Hunt sphere. All four of his blots on his copybook have come at Cheltenham and yet again he failed to deliver the goods when runner-up in the Queen Mother Champion Chase back in March. Returning to winning ways with a dominant victory in the Melling Chase at Aintree, Nicky Henderson’s star is back to try and claim a third win in the Celebration Chase. He will try to do so this year with a new jockey on his back, as the injured Nico De Boinville will miss the ride and Mark Walsh will take over. However, JP McManus’ Irish-retained jockey should continue the Seven Barrows’ star fine winning run in this event and he should cruise to victory at short odds.
ENERGUMENE
(Paul Townend/Willie Mullins)
A dual Champion Chase hero, Energumene is certainly coming to the end of his career at the top level, but the Willie Mullins-trained 11-year-old is set for another crack at Jonbon and adds huge depth to the race. He failed to land any sort of blow on the Henderson raider when the pair clashed in the Clarence House Chase at Ascot back in February, with Jonbon winning by six lengths, while he was pulled up in the Champion Chase at Cheltenham last month. If he was on his best form then he could certainly throw a challenge up to Jonbon, but he’s blown more cold than hot this season, so is hard to trust.
IL ETAIT TEMPS
(Danny Mullins/Willie Mullins)
Third in last season’s Arkle, Il Etait Temps then went and stormed to victory in the Grade 1 Manifesto Novices’ Chase at Aintree before going on to win a Grade 1 at the Punchestown Festival. However, he’s not been seen on the track all season and it’s going to be a tough ask on his first run this year. Proven to be a top notch performer he has to be respected from the Mullins camp, but will certainly need Jonbon to underperform to take the prize, but he could be the bigger danger of the two Closutton runners.
THE FIELD
Four other horses take their chance and Alan King’s Edwardstone is one that could look to pick up some valuable prize money here, but is another that looks to have age catch up with him. A proven Grade 1 horse at his best, the Barbury Castle inmate was last seen finishing last of five in the Game Spirit Chase and needs to bounce back from that. Second in the Grand Annual at Cheltenham, Unexpected Party failed to win the race he won in 2023, but Dan Skelton’s charge is in decent form and could be looking to pick up the pieces here, as could Master Chewy, who could be another that looks to stay on to claim valuable prize money. Fifth in the Ryanair Chase, the Nigel Twiston-Davies-trained raider could benefit from a drop back in trip and if he can hunt round in the behind then could well be capable of staying on late. Harper’s Brook completes the line-up and looks to face a huge task.
VERDICT
JONBON continues to be the shining beacon in the division and with an exemplary record away from Cheltenham then he looks certain to make it three wins in this race. Master Chewy and Unexpected Party could both be ridden cold and look to claim second place, but it’s the former that may just have too much to land second, while Il Etait Temps may get the better of the Skelton horse to grab the bronze medal.
2025 Celebration Chase 1-2-3
- Jonbon
- Master Chewy
- Il Etait Temps
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