Jonbon adds a third Shloer Chase win, edging Mighty Bandit at Cheltenham.
On Friday afternoon, 13 November 2026, the Shloer Chase at Cheltenham Racecourse delivered a memorable chapter in the career of the ten-year-old gelding Jonbon. Backed as the 1/2 favourite, the JP McManus-owned horse broke his own record, securing a third triumph in the £100,000 Grade 2 contest.
The win lifted his career tally to 21 victories from 29 starts, underscoring a consistency that has rarely been matched in National Hunt racing.
Jonbon’s performance and the race narrative
Ridden for the first time by Harry Cobden, who has recently become McManus’ retained jockey, Jonbon displayed a flawless run from the start.
The gelding, carrying 11 st 10 lb, settled comfortably before unleashing a decisive turn of foot in the closing stages. Mighty Bandit, trained by Warren Greatrex and carrying 11 st 4 lb, challenged strongly but was eventually beaten by two and a quarter lengths.
Saint Segal, another 11 st 4 lb runner, trailed further back, finishing nine lengths behind the winner. Gidleigh Park was declared a non-runner, leaving a three-horse field to contest the two-mile and 199-yard distance.
In post-race comments, trainer Nicky Henderson praised the gelding’s resilience, noting, “Some still say Cheltenham is not his favourite place, but he’s won this for the third time now. Age doesn’t seem to be worrying him.” The trainer highlighted the upcoming three-week gap before the Tingle Creek Chase at Sandown Park, confirming it as the next target for the campaign.
Quotes from the connections
Harry Cobden, beaming after the ride, said, “He is the most fantastic horse. I’ve spent the last five years following him round and I never thought I would get to ride him. He’s a wonderful horse, a brilliant jumper and incredibly intelligent.” Cobden also emphasized the significance of the race as Jonbon’s first run back, adding that Henderson’s horses traditionally improve after a break, so “he’s done it well, hasn’t he?”
Henderson, reflecting on Jonbon’s broader record, highlighted the gelding’s consistency: “I am very proud he has never been out of the first two. That’s a remarkable record, because they’ve nearly all been in Grade 1s or Grade 2s. He has been amazing and just keeps coming out year after year.” The trainer also referenced Jonbon’s earlier successes, including victories in the Clarence House Chase and Ascot Chase, and a runner-up finish to Heart Wood in the Ryanair Chase at the 2026 Cheltenham Festival.
What lies ahead for the champion
With L’Eau Du Sud absent from this year’s field, Jonbon now has a clear path to become the first horse to win the Shloer Chase three times. His official rating of 165 places him ten pounds above the nearest rival, Gidleigh Park, but the gelding must concede six pounds to each opponent under the race conditions.
The next major test will be the Tingle Creek Chase at Sandown, a three-week sprint that will gauge Jonbon’s form over a slightly longer distance. If he can replicate his Cheltenham brilliance, the horse could be positioned for a strong showing in the 2027 Cheltenham Festival, where he still seeks a Festival win after multiple second-place finishes in the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle, Arkle Chase, Champion Chase and Ryanair Chase.
