Cheltenham ante-post betting news: Jonbon lays down Champion Chase marker

On another big weekend of jumps action in the UK and Ireland it was Jonbon who was the headline act as he retained his Tingle Creek Chase crown at Sandown in fine style.

Here, we look at three of the standout weekend performances and how they may have affected the protagonists’ hopes when it comes to the Cheltenham Festival in March.

Cheltenham ante-post betting: Market movers

• Jonbon – Queen Mother Champion Chase @ 11/4 with BetMGM
• L’Eau Du Sud – Arkle Novices’ Chase @ 6/1 with BetMGM
• Ile Atlantique – Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase @ 12/1 with BetMGM

Jonbon makes Champion Chase statement

Jonbon reminded everyone he will be the horse to beat in the two-mile chasing division this season on Saturday when he became the first horse since Kauto Star in 2006 to win back-to-back runnings of the Tingle Creek Chase at Sandown Park.

The JP McManus-owned eight-year-old was dominant after racing at the front throughout, jumping well before he drew clear of Quilixios to record his 16th  career success and eighth Grade 1 victory.

Jonbon has finished second on each of his two runs at the Cheltenham Festival, behind Constitution Hill in the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle in 2022 and behind El Fabiolo in the Arkle the following year.

He missed the Queen Mother Champion Chase last season when trainer Nicky Henderson withdrew most of his runners because of concerns about the health of his yard’s runners.

Henderson, winning the Tingle Creek for the fourth time, was delighted with Jonbon on Saturday, although he admitted there are stronger challengers still to cross the Irish Sea come March.

“He was up for a battle,” Henderson said. “He’s a very classy terrier because he just loves the scrap. He is the two-miler that I think can represent our country. We’ve got to fight against the enemy, who are going to come over in force.”

L’Eau du Sud impresses ahead of Arkle

If Jonbon is now Britain’s leading two-miler in the older brigade, then before him at Sandown on Saturday afternoon the Dan Skelton-trained L’Eau du Sud marked himself down as potentially the best UK novice over the trip with his impressive win in the Grade 1 Henry VIII Novices’ Chase.

The six-year-old faced a dual Irish challenge in the form of Touch Me Not and Down Memory Lane from the Gordon Elliott team, but it was Harry Skelton’s mount who finished the best part of four lengths clear at the line.

Skelton allowed the favourite to move ahead at the third last, but Jordan Gainford and Touch Me Not applied pressure until late on, when L’Eau du Sud moved into a decisive advantage.

It was his third win over fences but the first time he had been asked some serious questions in a race over the larger obstacles, an experience that should not be lost on him.

The Arkle is the spring target, but Dan Skelton isn’t put off by facing some serious challenges en route to the Cotswolds, where his charge was so impressive last month. He is even considering tackling Jonbon with his star novice in the Game Spirit Chase at Newbury.

“It will be the Kingmaker or the Game Spirit,” the trainer said. “If Harry had to be at Newbury to ride Protektorat in the Denman Chase and Be Aware in the Betfair Hurdle then I would have no problem running him in the Game Spirit. 

“We would likely finish second to Jonbon, but it would be a great run en route to the Arkle.”

Ile Atlantique worth noting for Mullins

As always, dual champion trainer Willie Mullins won’t be short of options when the Cheltenham Festival rolls around, especially in the novice races.

Ile Atlantique contested four Grade 1 novices over timber last season, remaining winless as the likes of Ballyburn, Brighterdaysahead and Mystical Power shared the spoils.

He was shy of top class over the smaller obstacles but the initial signs at Navan on Saturday were that the Tony Bloom-owned eight-year-old will graduate to better things over fences.

He was much too strong for the well-regarded Waterford Whispers from Henry De Bromhead’s yard. Ile Atlantique jumped well in front and travelled smoothly before moving clear of the runner-up and Grade 1 hurdles winner Good Land in third.

It was a performance not lost on Paul Townend, who holds him in high regard. “I loved him last year and he didn't fulfil what I thought he was going to do,” the winning rider said. “I just think sitting on him, he's so big this year.”

Stamina could be his forte and the three-mile Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase already looks a likely spring destination with double-figure prices still on offer.