A decade after it was first run as a Grade 1, the Celebration Chase is poised to be a cracker this year. It is the final top tier race of the season and we have given our 1-2-3 below after analysing the main contenders and field.
The 2023 edition went the way of Jonbon, who stepped out of novice company to defeat his more experienced rivals a year ago.
EL FABIOLO
(Willie Mullins/Paul Townend)
One of two similarly valuable races on the final day of the National Hunt season, the Celebration Chase could yet prove invaluable for Willie Mullins in his quest to be British Champion Trainer. Him winning the title may already seem close to inevitable, but to consolidate that victory, a win for El Fabiolo here would be useful, not least to boost his speed chasing star’s confidence.
His near spill, and subsequent pulling up, in the Champion Chase proved there are never any certainties in jumps racing. He will go off nowhere near the price he was that day, especially given one of his chief rivals opposing here, but on ability he would be a shorter price than the shade of odds-on he is currently trading at. Even with the odd jumping error, he is the one to beat, as long as that error is not catastrophic.
JONBON
(Nicky Henderson/Nico De Boinville)
One of numerous horses kept under wraps for the Cheltenham Festival by Nicky Henderson, Jonbon’s record with El Fabiolo currently reads 1-1. His success over Mullins; charge came over hurdles, with the defeat being met in last year’s Arkle, but there is no doubt he will be arriving at Sandown with greater preparation and momentum.
After a defeat in which a mistake of his own proved costly in the rearranged Clarence House Chase at Cheltenham, he put things right at Aintree, denying Ryanair Chase protagonists Conflated and Protektorat in the 2m4f Melling Chase. That was his fifth Grade 1 win over fences and he is unbeaten at Sandown, so there is definitely hope for his fans that he can turn the tables on his old rival here.
EDWARDSTONE
(Alan King/Tom Cannon)
Aside from Jonbon the other course and distance winner in the field is Edwardstone. Indeed his record at the track reads 112, with the second representing what was likely his best performance of the season, when less than three lengths behind Jonbon in the Tingle Creek earlier this term.
He may have won the Grade 2 Game Spirit Chase very comfortably since, but that was against markedly inferior opposition (some of whom repose in this line-up), but his runner-up behind Jonbon was a proper Grade 1 effort against a top class horse. His front-running tactics at Newbury, which were overly forced when falling in the Champion Chase, were not yet known at Sandown beforehand, and they could be used to good effect here.
THE FIELD
The trio atop the market are well clear in the market and that is unlikely to change ahead of kick off. The remaining quartet comprise three ten-year-olds and one nine-year-old, all of whom have been regulars in big 2m chases this season and in the past.
Editeur Du Gite and Elixir De Nutz have capitalised on underperformances from significant rivals to win the Grade 1 Clarence House at Cheltenham for the last two seasons. However, it has generally been a struggle for them at the top level otherwise and both will only be fighting for place money if similar ill luck befalls any of the top three once again.
The other pair have failed to win at the top level although Nube Negra has won the Grade 2 Shloer Chase on multiple occasions and was second in the 2021 Champion Chase. He is not the force of old now though, while Boothill could still have progression to come but has fallen on both of his last two starts.
VERDICT
Edwardstone cannot be completely ruled out at a track he relishes especially if ridden with a little more restraint from the front this time. However, this should still be between EL FABIOLO and Jonbon, with the former selected knowing his pure ability is simply greater than his rival’s. After his Cheltenham mishap he cannot be wholeheartedly trusted in the jumping department at a track like Sandown, but as long as he is in touch turning for home he should go on to win. The remaining quartet will be outclassed bar a miracle.
- El Fabiolo
- Jonbon
- Edwardstone
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