Jonbon Toughs It Out Once More

A look back at the biggest performances, headlines and moments that shaped the past week in horse racing.

This week saw more trials and clues for Cheltenham, and now the Grand National, in a jam-packed Saturday of racing.

Starting at the main event down at Ascot, where The Jukebox Kid kicked things off in impressive fashion winning the three-mile Reynoldstown Novice’s Chase by five-and-a-half lengths for a second win in the race for Ben Pauling. Pauling didn’t have to wait long for winners in Berkshire kicking off the card with odds-on shot Mondoui’boy and Fiercely Proud winning either side of The Jukebox Kid’s graded success completing a treble on the card.

It was also a successful day for trainer Tom Lacey too, as he saw Montregard beat Gericault Roque in the feature handicap the Swinley Handicap Chase before Walden routed his handicap hurdle field by six-and-a-half lengths.

Then came the main attraction, the final Grade One in the British Isles before the Festival, the Ascot Chase. Pic D’Orhy, who dominated this race in its previous two renewals, was looking for an unprecedented treble, the first in the races’ history. His main rival was Jonbon, still yet to finish outside the top two and only recently rediscovered the winning spark in the Clarence House Chase last month.

It was then apt that these two household names were involved in a match battle throughout the entire two mile and five furlong trip, whilst four other rivals simply made up the numbers. It looked like Jonbon may have found the step up in trip difficult when turning for home, as Harry Cobden held Pic D’Orhy whilst Nico de Boinville was starting to go through the gears with two left to jump. But then, Jonbon, seemingly not knowing how to lose in races like these dug deep and was simply impervious over the final two fences and Pic D’Orhy was downed into second, a performance reminiscent of Shishkin, Jonbon’s late, and much-loved stablemate, in his Clarence House Chase success.

The Grand National was more on people’s mind up at Haydock with the Grand National Trial Handicap Chase looking to confirm some final places before the weights were published on Tuesday. Myretown looked sure to win according to many, despite never competing over a marathon distance of three-and-a-half miles. And sure enough, Myretown began to tire two from the finish and a Grand National dream was downed, and picked up by Tommy Whittle Chase winner Grand Geste for former Grand National winning trainer Sue Smith and training partner Joel Parkinson. Dalston Lad provided the Skelton’s with their usual Saturday winner in the Prestige Novice’s Hurdle setting up a possible tilt at the Albert Bartlett at the Festival.

For the flat fans, there was some international action on Saturday with the $20 million Saudi Cup taking place. First the Neom Turf Cup, which is the turf equivalent to the Saudi Cup, was taken home by the aptly named Royal Champion who is trained by Karl Burke. And Forever Young became the first dual winner of the big Middle East prize, establishing himself as one of the world greats in the process.