Jonbon maintained his unbeaten start over obstacles with victory in Grade Two Sky Bet Supreme Trial Rossington Main Novices’ Hurdle at Haydock Park.
And with victory he booked his ticket to a mouth-watering clash with stable-mate Constitution Hill and Dysart Dyanmo at the Cheltenham Festival.
The Nicky Henderson-trained six-year-old, sent off the 2-5 favourite, followed up two smart successes over hurdles at Newbury and Ascot before Christmas, with another smooth victory on Merseyside
Owned by JP McManus, Jonbon looks a very smart young hurdler and he had little trouble maintaining his unbeaten record under Aidan Coleman.
Settled in just off the pace he eventually went on to score by three lengths from the Donald McCain-trained Richmond Lake (12-1).
Despite not being as spectacular as his previous efforts, it was a fine victory and Jonbon will head to Prestbury Park with a real chance of victory in what is looking like one of the races of the Festival.
He is now a best-priced 4-1 with Paddy Power, Betfred and Betfair for the Cheltenham Festival opener, the Sky Bet Supreme Novices’ Hurdle, on March 15. Recent Tolworth Hurdle hero Constitution Hill is a best-priced 9-4 with the sponsors. While another unbeaten hurdler, Irish raider Dysart Dynamo - from the Willie Mullins' stable, is 7-2 with Skybet but was generally eased into 3-1.
Winning jockey Coleman said: "I suppose his last two races through nobody's fault or circumstances, he took it front and it was much more easy. Today it was a end-to-end gallop and he really quickened turning in. It was a really good race on a quick track.
"I got there quite comfortable, I was in top gear, and I was always going to go away after the last. He went away but pulled up a bit in the last half furlong. But that happens to horses at Haydock. Some kind of get run out of it late on. He was quite lonely the last half furlong more for the track than anything else.
"On that ground you are not going to win on the bridle today. It was very hard work, tacky and holding.
"Everything went well. It is another win, he's unbeaten and we are happy. He has beaten some smart horses."
Speaking from Ascot, trainer Nicky Henderson told ITV Racing: "I thought that was good. It was a different test today, a speed track, very soft ground.
"They quickened once in the straight and you thought he's got something to do here but he got there nicely. Then he quickened again and I like horses that can quicken twice. He's gone right away at the end. I'd say job done."
Tommy's Oscar (4-7 favourite) continued his rise with a fourth successive victory in the Grade Two New One Unibet Hurdle.
And now his connections - Ann and Ian Hamilton - can dream of a crack at the Unibet Champion Hurdle and super mare Honeysuckle at the Cheltenham Festival on March 15.
The seven-year-old, who had rattled up a hat-trick of wins at Haydock, Doncaster and Musselburgh, was cut to 25-1 from 33-1 by Coral for the Champion Hurdle - but he is still a 50-1 chance for the Cheltenham Festival Grade One championship contest on March 15.
But he is on an upward curve and connections feel they need to at least have a crack.
Navajo Pass and Global Citizen went well clear of the rivals from the off Tommy's Oscar about 10 lengths back in third.
But as the first two tired Tommy's Oscar, under a patient ride under Danny McMenamin, came through and went on to score by a comfortable five lengths from Global Citizen (25-1).
The Hamiltons only have four horses, but continue to punch above their weight.
And despite having doubts the undulating track at Cheltenham, connections seems certain to send him to Prestbury Park.
Hamilton's husband, Ian, said: "He couldn't have done it any easier really. He was there to be shot at today, odds-on favourite, he had quite a bit to lose and not a lot to gain.
"He's seven, his improving all the time. We bought him as three-mile chaser but he doesn't stay, he's a two-miler.
"I'm chuffed to bits with him. If someone will drive the box we'll go (to Cheltenham)!
"The only thing is he's been winning races here and at Musselburgh and they are flat tracks, Cheltenham is very undulating which will be different.
"I suppose we've got to give it a go."
Ann Hamilton is of a similar mindset, adding: "The horses are very well this year, next year they might not be, things might go wrong, so we'll probably have a go.
"It was quite a hard watch for a bit until they turned in from the bottom corner when Danny started to move up. He's a lovely horse and he tries his best.
"If we're going to go to Cheltenham this is the year to do it, when the horses are well."
Merseyside-born trainer Donald McCain awon the opener at Haydock, the Grade Two Patrick Coyne Memorial Altcar Novices’ Chase with Minella Drama (85-40 favourite).
Fresh from landing his quickest century of winners in a season earlier this week, the Grand National winner added another at his ‘home’ tracks.
The seven-year-old was back to winning ways as he beat Hardy Du Seuil by an impressive nine-and-a-half lengths under Brian Hughes.
Having been a smart hurdler, he made a winning debut over fences at Uttoxeter. But he was just touched off by War Lord at Carlisle and then lost a shoe when fifth in the Grade One Close Brothers Henry VII Novices’ Chase at Sandown last time.
But dropped back down in grade and up in trip to 2m4f he resumed winning ways.
Outsider Antey made much of the early running, with Minella Drama close up in second. But coming into the final half-mile, Minella Drama - who Hughes had wide away from his rivals - jumped to the front and quickly had his rivals struggling.
He jumped well throughout and eventually moved clear for a comfortable success.
Minella Drama will now probably head to Aintree Racecourse for the Randox Grand National meeting in April and a possible crack at the Grade One Manifesto Novices' Chase.
McCain believes he is a genuine Grade One performer and is excited about the future.
He said: "He is very good. We saw he wasn't favourite and he is a genuine Grade One performer.
"It has been a slow process with him. He is wild in everything he does and Adrian, who rides him every day - lads like him make horses like this. You keep him away from other horses, his tail goes around. But he is very, very talented.
"It was always the plan to come here, but you felt you had to run him over two miles two or three times to get the freshness out of him, because he is away otherwise. But he is learning his job well.
"He is tough and hardy and he probably wouldn't be in love with the ground but he handled it.
"But he was never going to get beat."
He added: "We don't know (if he will run again before Aintree). He is just not straightforward enough to do things with. I would imagine we'll go to Aintree, Brian (Hughes) wants me to go to Ayr which comes first this year.
"It is all up in the air, but he is horse who is going to be around for a few years, hopefully."
Winning jockey Hughes added: "He had got his own technique, so the last thing he needed was me interferring with him.
"I purposely went wide and it is one of his things (jumping right), so rather than let him get in to the routine of jumping right, I went to the outside rail and he was straight as a dye."
Sue Smith's Small Present (4-1) just got up late on to beat the front-running Tokyo Getaway (15-2) to win the Stuart Whittle’s 40th Birthday Handicap Hurdle.
