The future of Nicky Henderson’s multiple Grade One winner Jonbon is still to be decided as the New Year looms large on the horizon.
Jonbon finished second to Willie Mullins-trained Il Etait Temps when bidding for a hat-trick of Grade 1 Tingle Creek Chase wins at the start of December. His third runner-up spot from his last three outings
The nine-year-old two-miler does not hold an entry in the King George VI Chase at Kempton on Boxing Day and connections are still to decide on his next steps.
The consistent Jonbon, who has 18 wins from 25 races over the jumps, will turn ten at the start of 2026 and could be aimed at tougher stamina tests over longer distances.
Henderson has already admitted that he would be “very surprised” if Jonbon was going to jump from two to three miles straight away, with distances in between being considered, with the Ascot Chase and Clarence House Chase front of mind.
After finishing nine lengths behind Il Etait Temps in the Tingle Creek, Henderson said: “You’ve got to be tempted to go further.
“The Ascot Chase is an option, but the Clarence House is there as well. I don’t know what Willie’s thinking, he’s probably got six for it, but we might have something else sat in the background, you never know.”
Henderson has already conceded that beating Il Etait Temps in the future will be a tough task.
“We’re not going to beat him [Il Etait Temps] over two miles at the moment,” added Henderson.
“He beat us last season, but Jonbon has proved there it wasn’t because he was tired. We thought after the Celebration he was at the end of a long season and he [Il Etait Temps] was fresh, but the winner has proved that over two miles he’s a sharper horse now.”
Frank Berry, the racing manager of Jonbon’s owner JP McManus, was in a positive mood about Jonbon’s progress recently, despite the Sandown defeat.
“He’s come out of the race very good and Nicky is very happy with him since the race.
“I don’t know what he is thinking now. I’m sure it (stepping up in trip) will be considered. I can’t tell you where he goes, but he’s in good form and has come out of the race good.”
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Potential races for Jonbon in 2026
King George VI Chase (Grade 1, 3 miles at Kempton on Boxing Day)
Highly unlikely to be on the agenda as the step up in trip from two miles to 3 miles is considered too big a leap.
Clarence House Chase (Grade 1, 2m 1f at Ascot on January 17, 2026)
Traditional stepping stone to the Champion Chase and Jonbon is the defending champion, beating Energumene by six and a half lengths in 2025. So he handles the course well and the contest is a great sharpener for Cheltenham.
Denman Chase (Grade 2, 2m4f at Newbury on February 7, 2026)
Often used as a prep for bigger Spring targets like the Cheltenham of Aintree Festivals. Shishkin triumphed in this contest in 2024.
Ascot Chase (Grade 1, 2m4f at Ascot on February 14, 2026)
A traditional mid-season target for top 2-mile horses stretching out. This might be a good test to see if switching to the Ryanair Chase at the Cheltenham Festival is the right path.
Nicky Henderson last won this with nine-year-old Shishkin in 2023.
Queen Mother Champion Chase (Grade 1, 1m 7f at Cheltenham Festival on March 11, 2026)
This remains the default big objective for a horse of Jonbon’s calibre over fences, which is historically his strongest trip and the feature two-mile chase at the Cheltenham Festival.
However, he finished second to Marine Nationale in this contest in 2025 and with three defeats under his belt at Cheltenham over the minimum trip other options will be considered.
Ryanair Chase (Grade 1, 2m4½f at Cheltenham Festival on March 12, 2026)
This is a big ‘if’ for Jonbon depending on how he fares with intermediate trips earlier in the season.
Certainly a strong Plan B if Henderson decides Jonbon has had enough over shorter 2 mile distances.
Melling Chase (Grade 1, 2m 4f at Aintree Grand National Festival on April 10, 2026)
Jonbon is the two-time defending champion in his race and is likely to go again, depending on how he gets on at the Cheltenham Festival.
He has a strong record at Aintree, where he has never been beaten, and looked much more comfortable over the longer distance of two-and-a-half miles when winning in 2025.
Mildmay Novices’ Chase (Grade 1, 3m 1f at Aintree Grand National Festival on April 10, 2026)
Run over approximately 3 miles at the Aintree Grand National Festival, this a long shot potential target if Jonbon proves he handles the intermediate steps up in trip well.
It’s a big leap in distance but has the potential to put him on a path to the King George on Boxing Day 2026.
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