Jonbon made it a dozen top level wins by taking the Grade 1 Ascot Chase on Saturday.
The ten-year-old won the battle of the veterans, with the top three in the market for the race possessing a combined age of 33. Ultimately, it came down to the leading pair of Jonbon and Pic D’orhy to fight out the finish.
Pic D’orhy’s game effort made for a terrific battle to the finish in the 2m5f contest. However, the two-time defending champion had to give best in a thrilling final furlong after the final fence.
Jonbon was securing his 12th Grade 1 win and his third over a middle distance trip. It is likely to set up a bid for the Ryanair Chase next month at the Cheltenham Festival. The one thing missing on his otherwise glittering CV is a Cheltenham success in March.
Henderson and Nicholls pay tribute to top two
Despite the lack of younger talents against them, the pair of veterans served up a classic.
Pic D’orhy set off to make all, as he had done in the past two renewals. However, Jonbon was always in close attendance, tracking him in a close second. The remaining quartet were always toiling behind the main duo.
Initially, it was Paul NIcholls’ runner who looked to be travelling best into the straight. Jonbon, though, had not got to 11 Grade 1 wins by going down lightly and slowly drew his rival in.
After a brief tussle from the final fence, Jonbon asserted to score by a length-and-a-half. Trainers of their respective gladiators were delighted by the display.
As reported in the Sporting Life, Henderson said: “That was a proper race. Two older horses, ten and eleven, they put up the race of the season surely as that was proper stuff. They jumped and they fought and they traded it. It was in the balance all the way, but he stays.
“It is funny as he ran the same sort of race in the Clarence House. He looked in trouble on the bend. He got home because of two miles and he got home because of two miles five, so he gets the trip well. You get the same race whatever you do with him. He has just been something special. I know JP just loves him, and don’t we all. You don’t get many like that. That record of only being in the first two says it all really. Even if he gets beaten he doesn’t lie down.”
Nicholls was just as proud of his runner-up.
“He has won one million pounds in prizemoney and not many horses do that. That was as good a run as any today and that was a proper Grade One horse that beat him. It was a fantastic run.
“I think Harry thought after the last he might get there, but he just landed a bit flat, but he just kept galloping and never gave in. That was one of his best runs.”