Nicky Henderson brushed off talk of a late run at the trainers’ title after Jonbon’s convincing six-and-a-half length defeat of Energumene in the Clarence House Chase on Saturday. There was the glint in his eye, though, of a fierce, inveterate competitor who can sense a tide may be starting to turn.
Henderson left with two more firm favourites for Grade One races at Cheltenham in March, as Jonbon’s win followed an easy success for Lulamba, Henderson’s main Triumph Hurdle contender, in the opener. If all goes to plan with Constitution Hill, the Champion Hurdle favourite, and Sir Gino, who heads the market for the Arkle Trophy, his Cheltenham squad promises to be the strongest from a British stable for several seasons.
