Jonbon knuckled down when it mattered to claim a neat success and retain his title in the Shloer Chase at Cheltenham.
Nicky Henderson's 1-3 favourite was returning to action after signing out on a high last term, following a season in which he was beaten only once in five runs.
Twelve months ago, he started his campaign with a nine-and-a-half-length victory in this race, so naturally he was at cramped odds under Nico de Boinville with only three rivals to beat.
He made the running and enjoyed a smooth passage around Prestbury Park ahead of an ultimately assured victory from Harry Fry’s Boothill, who did seem a touch short of room on the rail as both he and Edwardstone ensured Jonbon knew he had been in a race.
Jonbon, JOB-DONE!
— CheltenhamRacecourse (@CheltenhamRaces) November 15, 2024
The @sevenbarrows star wins the Shloer Chase, workmanlike but winning 👏 pic.twitter.com/l3xmerK049
"I think his jumping was as good as I’ve ever seen, which is great," said Henderson.
"He looks to have really enjoyed himself, I suspect he’ll tell me (De Boinville) that he had a good blow between the last two, I’d expect him to.
"We’ve got a few weeks to the Tingle Creek and that would be the perfect prep, I’d say, but it’s not a prep, it’s a race we want to win!
"That was ideal. I thought he looked awfully big in the pre-parade ring but it’s funny when you see them here and you’re used to looking at them at home.
"That was great, it’s a job done. It’s just a lovely race for him and it takes us on to where we’re trying to go.
"You won’t see a better round of jumping, he could make the odd mistake but he was foot-perfect there.
"You could go short, you could go long. If you asked him a question, you got the answer, that was really good."
On future plans and the decision to stick at two miles, Henderson added: "Like a lot of these horses, as they get older, they’re almost certain to get a bit further. He did at Aintree, that was two and a half miles, that was no problem.
"Of course, he’ll get further but we said at the start of the season, we are a two-miler and we’ll stay at two miles.
"You’ve got to be positive about where you’re going to go, we haven’t made any other entries for him. It will be the Tingle Creek, all being well, then the Clarence House and the normal route I suspect. I’d be surprised if we vary it."
Potters Charm made quite the impression with a runaway victory in the Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle.
Nigel Twiston-Davies’ five-year-old was second in his sole point-to-point start but has been unbeaten since under Rules, taking a bumper and two hurdle events before lining up at Grade Two level.
He was sent off at 7-4 with Sam Twiston-Davies in the saddle, as Dan Skelton’s Valgrand led the market as the 5-6 favourite following his facile success here when last seen.
But this time it was Potters Charm who left the field in his wake, powering to an 11-length win from the favourite in a display full of future promise for his syndicate of owners that includes former Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson.
He made light work of that 😮💨
— CheltenhamRacecourse (@CheltenhamRaces) November 15, 2024
Potters Charm goes 3/3 over hurdles winning the @albert_bartlett Novices' Hurdle 👏 pic.twitter.com/92IUg6uLIV
Assistant trainer Willy Twiston-Davies said: "I felt a bit of a wally last time saying he’d win like that, but that is what we expect of him, he’s just very naturally talented.
"Sam just said he jumped a lot better again today, but what you have to remember is Valgrand jumps exceptionally well so his jumping had to sharpen up from last time going a faster pace. I’m sure he’ll get better again.
"For him to do that on that ground – I can’t wait to see what he does on ground with a bit of dig in it, which is what he wants. He quickens up really well on soft ground.
"I think we’ll let the dust settle, but I was talking to Sam and we’ll either go to the Challow Hurdle or maybe drop back to two on soft ground for the Tolworth, we’ll just work back from the Festival and make sure we get him there in the best shape possible."
He went on: "We’ve won a novice, won a novice here and now a Grade Two, he’s proved he’s a Festival horse. He doesn’t seem to have had the hardest race, but maybe that is his talent speaking.
"When you put a 140-rated horse away so easily like that you can’t help but be impressed. I feel a bit vindicated as he doesn’t show the most at home, but when he comes to the track he lights up. He’s come in and he’s not blowing."
