Jonbon broke hearts on Valentine’s Day — specifically, Pic D’Orhy’s.
The pair jumped the last together in the Ascot Chase, and for a stride or two Harry Cobden’s drive on the defending champion looked like it might be enough. It wasn’t. Nico de Boinville dug deep on the 4-9 favourite and Jonbon pulled clear to win by a length and a half, clinching a 12th Grade One victory over fences.
Only Kauto Star, with 16, has more. That’s the company Jonbon is keeping now.
The Numbers Behind the Machine
What makes Jonbon’s record remarkable isn’t just the volume of Grade One wins — it’s the consistency. From our SmartForm database, his record in top-level chases reads 11 wins from 17 completed starts, a 65% strike rate at the highest level. Factor in that he’s never finished worse than second when completing (bar one non-runner at Cheltenham 2024), and you’re looking at one of the most reliable Grade One performers in modern history.
His Ascot record is particularly striking: three runs, three wins, all in Grade Ones. The Clarence House in January 2025, the Clarence House again four weeks ago, and now the Ascot Chase. He treats the Berkshire track like his living room.
A Different Kind of Tough
Today’s win told us something we already knew, but needed confirming: Jonbon is brutally hard to pass.
Back in January, he won the Clarence House after what his trainer called “a big battle.” The in-race comments from that day paint the picture: “disputed lead, headed 1st, dropped to third 3 out, headway to chase leader 2 out, stayed on well and led close home, won going away.”
Four weeks later, with that effort in his legs, he’s done it again. Henderson was right to highlight the courage involved: “You have got to be very brave to do what he did today.”
Pic D’Orhy, to his credit, ran a huge race. Paul Nicholls called it “one of his best ever races,” and the 14-length gap back to third tells you exactly how far clear these two were of everything else.
Where Does This Leave Cheltenham?
The obvious target is the Queen Mother Champion Chase on March 11. Jonbon’s record there is the one blemish on an otherwise immaculate CV — second in 2025, a non-runner in 2024, and second in the 2024 running at the relocated Clarence House fixture.
Henderson hinted at it in his post-race comments: “You would like to think that he could win one because he deserves one, doesn’t he?”
The data suggests he’s going into the Festival in better form than ever. Two Grade One wins in four weeks, both requiring genuine battling qualities rather than cruise-control dominance. Nicky Henderson’s yard is firing too — a 24% strike rate from 54 runners in the last month.
If the ground stays on the soft side at Prestbury Park, and he draws a small, tactical field, Jonbon will take some stopping. He usually does.
Also at Haydock: Grand Geste Eyes Aintree Bonus
In the other headline act of the afternoon, Grand Geste produced a strong late run to win the Grand National Trial at Haydock under Danny McMenamin. The Sue Smith-trained grey came from off the pace to win by just under two lengths at 13-2, with a potential £500,000 bonus on the table if he goes on to win the Grand National in April.
Grand Geste’s form profile is interesting — he won the Tommy Whittle at the same track in December and clearly relishes Haydock’s demanding fences. Whether he has the class to handle Aintree is another question, but a grey winning the National always makes for a good story.