English/Ire
Jonbon heads eight Ascot Chase entries
Jonbon could face as many as seven rivals when he potentially bids for a twelfth top-level success in the Betfair Ascot Chase on Saturday.
The £175,000 prize has attracted eight entries, with Jonbon heading the list as he bids to follow-up his high-class success in the Clarence House at the same track last month.
Nicky Henderson's ten-year-old has generally been campaigned as a two-miler throughout his career but the fourteen-time chaser winner does have winning form over further having plundered the Melling Chase at Aintree on two separate occasions.
However, Saturday's trip of two-miles and five furlongs would be the furthest he has run under Rules, and the French-bred son of Walk In The Park will face no easy task, with Paul Nicholls' Pic D'Orhy standing in his way.
Owned by Johnny de la Hey, the fellow French-bred will head to Ascot looking for a third-straight win in the contest having landed it in 2024 before following up with a smooth five and a half-length success over L'Homme Presse last season. He has failed to find the winners' circle in both starts this campaign but did run well in defeat when runner-up on his seasonal reappearance in the Charlie Hall at Wetherby before disappointing in the 1965 over this weekend's course and distance.
Alan King's veteran Edwardstone could look to follow-up his recent Silviniaco Conti Chase victory, while title-chasing trainer Dan Skelton is responsible for three entries with Etalon, Heltenham and Riskintheground.
Blow Your Wad and Classic Maestro are also currently engaged.
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