Sandown Saturday review and replays

Celebration time for Jonbon team

Jonbon (8/13 favourite) rewarded connections' bold decision to take in the bet365 Celebration Chase by striking in his first run in open company over fences.

Second to El Fabiolo in the Sporting Life Arkle before winning at Aintree, Nicky Henderson's charge gave supporters a scare when pitching on landing down the back straight.

However, he was soon back on the bridle and jumping the second last had joined the leader Captain Guinness (6/1) who had already got the better of his own tussle with Greaneteen.

He couldn't shake off the market leader, though, Jonbon in front at the final fence and going clear up the hill to score by three-and-three-quarter lengths.

Betfair and Paddy Power cut the winner to 8/1 from 10s for the Betway Queen Mother Champion Chase and 4s from 5s for the Ryanair Chase. Sky Bet are 4s from 6s for the two-mile feature and 7s from 11s for the Ryanair.

Henderson said: “It was brave (running him). We had ummed and arred all week. I’ve been Punchestown all week and the boys have been getting this fellow ready - Paddy (Murphy) who rides him every day, and Charlie (Morlock), who is my right hand man, I’ve been talking to them every day and there was just no reason not to run him. It is very un-Henderson like sort of tactics. There was no reason I could find (not to run him).

"I was talking to JP for three days and said you have got to earn your corn as you are the trainer. That was my final deciding ball was that if we take these two milers on that we will meet next season and if we can cope with them now then we can start thinking of Tingle Creek and things like that next season and I think that is what he has answered. It has been fantastic and we have a mighty strong team of horses and people.

“That (mistake down the back) was the only thing that was probably novicey about him today. It was one there he didn’t know which way to go. He had been very long at the ditch and he just didn’t quite make his mind up. To comeback from that as a novice I think that makes a man of him. Three fences later he is back on the bridle as if nothing had happened but something had happened, something quite significant in fact had happened.

"A lot of horses would have dropped themselves out after that mistake) but I think that is testament to his engine. Even when we are schooling I don’t let Aidan on him until he is ready to jump off and go and jump five fences then he gets off him and I put Paddy back on him. You have to treat him very gently. He is getting better and better and is becoming more professional but the team have done a miraculous job with him.

"Cheltenham was disappointing. I was worried when this ground was going soft as I didn’t want the chase course going soft as I do think he is a better horse on good ground. He didn’t jump as well as he could at Cheltenham, but take nothing away from the winner (El Fabiolo) who again looked fabulous at Punchestown.

“Two years ago it was Energuemene versus Shishkin. Now the next dust up is going to be El Fabiolo and Jonbon. It is one all (between them). I do (think on better ground we can get the better of him). I was mighty impressed with El Fabiolo the other day. We have proved today we can take on the best two milers. Today bar one he was excellent and he will be excellent again at Cheltenham I hope next year and there is a lot to look forward to.”

Hewick bites back to win Oaksey for 'Shark'

Hewick, trained by John 'Shark' Hanlon and ridden by Rachael Blackmore, won the bet365 Oaksey Chase.

Taking in this Grade 2 prize instead of the Punchestown Gold Cup or bet365 Gold Cup, the latter of which he won on this day 12 months ago, it proved to be another perfect piece of placement for the horse who had already won races in England, his native Ireland and the United States.

Kim Bailey's veteran First Flow (10/1) gave it a brave shot from the front under David Bass and still held sway on the approach to the last but Blackmore had kept something in the tank and produced the 6/5 market leader to win going away by four lengths.

The two Paul Nicholls-trained runners, Solo and McFabulous, were both pulled-up in the two mile and six furlong race.

Winning trainer Shark Hanlon said: “It is lovely. I’m thinking the whole time should have I gone for the be365 Gold Cup but just with the fall he got at Cheltenham I thought this was the right thing to do for the horse to give him a confidence boost. His season is only starting because he is a summer horse. I just wanted to make sure that he got around safe. Rachael (Blackmore, jockey) was absolutely brilliant as she always is. I’m very sorry for Jordan (Gainford, jockey) that he is not here as he has made the horse for us. He will be back, and Rachael knows he will be back but until he does come back we have a great sub.

“He always comes off the bridle. There is no race he has ever ran in that he didn’t come off the bridle. He came off the bridle at Cheltenham but Jordan said three strides before the fence he was coming back on the bridle again. There is one thing we know about him is that he would have come up the hill. I don’t know if we were good enough to beat Willie’s (Mullins horse Galopin Des Champs) but we would have been knocking on the door for second or third.

“He is back here today in front of a great crowd and on a lovely track. The ground was a little bit soft for him, but there is nothing that can be done about that. This morning I came across on the flight and I said that I was glad I had him in this race not the bet365 Gold Cup because of the ground being that little bit softer. He got home a little bit quicker than I got off our Aer Lingus flight today as we were delayed by four hours from Dublin and I thought we would never get here. But we are here but it may take us four hours to get home now.

“He stays and stays and Rachael is so good at thinking. When he made his mistake she took him back and filled himself up and the next thing he came back on the bridle again. That is what is he does. He is a miracle horse. He has been some horse for me.

“I’ve something planned but I’m not going to say it yet. You will see it in time. I’ve a plan going out for him in six weeks’ time. It won’t be in England or Ireland. He will have to go back to America but we might go somewhere else with him.

“Have horse, will travel."

Rachael Blackmore told ITV Racing: “It’s great to be here and it’s great to be back teaming up with Shark for another winner. He was so good to me in the early part of my career and is the reason why I am riding as a professional today.

“It was brilliant to get to team up with this lad today as it is Jordan Gainford who should be sitting here. He is out of action at the moment and I am just subbing in for him.

“It’s an incredible story with this horse and incredible what Shark, Jordan and the owners have done with him by bringing him along. I am just delighted they asked me to ride him today."

Kim Bailey, trainer of the runner-up First Flow, said: “It was an unbelievable run. I’ve always maintained that he will stay and it’s been a long battle to get my way but he’s stayed today – he’s just got outstayed by a very good horse.

“In a handicap we’d be getting weight off him, so I’m absolutely thrilled. He’s shown he still has all the enthusiasm and loved every moment of it. He’s jumped better than I’ve ever seen him jump so all in all I couldn’t be more pleased.

“I don’t know about what we’ll do moving forward. Sadly, his owner (Tony Solomons) won’t know he’s running. His daughter is in charge and she’s not interested in racing so I’m not sure what’s happening to be perfectly honest.”

Nico de Boinville, jockey of the third placed Fantastic Lady said: “It was a great run, she’s given a very good account of herself.”

Drama as Brook hands victory to Value Bet tip Gloire D'athon

Gloire D'athon (11/2) got up on the run-in to defy Harper’s Brook, who looked to have the race in the bag, by four and a half lengths in the bet365 Josh Gifford Novices’ Handicap Chase.

Gloire D'athon completed a 9.5/1 double for jockey Aidan Coleman after the earlier success of Jonbon in the bet365 Celebration Chase.

It was also one of two Saturday winners for Matt Brocklebank's Value Bet column, the rather fortunate Sandown scorer having been tipped at 14/1 (15p Rule 4 due to withdrawal of Mumbo Jumbo).

Tony Humphrey, husband of winning trainer Sarah Humphrey, said: “Sarah was asked by the owners to buy something not too expensive that they could have some fun with.

“When we got him he was a bit nervy and lacked confidence. He has absolutely flourished for being in a small yard. You have seen his confidence build in every race. He went hurdling first of all but the way he jumps Sarah said he should go chasing. He has now won four out of five chases for us and the only one he didn’t win he was second in. It is just fantastic. Aidan gave him a peach of a ride and he knows him really well.

“We are absolutely over the moon. It is fantastic and one of the best winners we have had. This is Sarah’s best season ever in terms of prize money won. It has been quite special really. He seems to improve every time. When we first won a chase with him we said to Jenny (Pitman) owner that 130 would be his maximum, but that was a very impressive win. He jumps magnificently and in handicap company it is going to be a bit more difficult as he is not 160 rated and he probably will find it more difficult to put a series of wins together.

“I’m going to defer to Sarah for plans but we will have fun with Jenny thinking what the options might be. For a small yard to think in terms like that is not something we do as a small yard every week.”

Pauling not best pleased

Kielan Woods, rider of runner-up Harper’s Brook (7/2 joint-favourite), said: “I just got to the front too soon. It’s my fault, I did it at Carlisle one day as well. I hit the front too soon and he pulled up to a trot. He’d follow any horse for as long as you’d want him to and it won’t happen again.”

Ben Pauling, trainer of Harper’s Brook, said: “I’m not into slating jockeys but the horse has done it before and we know what he does. If you jump to the front two out and go to the last in front he literally pulls himself up. He’s not one who waits for other horses, when he decides he’s had enough that’s it. He’s not tired, he’s just a monkey. He’s a nightmare because you have to deliver him so late but he’s got the ability to do that. It’s disappointing he got beat because he shouldn’t have been.”

On the fourth-placed Quinta Do Mar (9/1) Pauling added: “He ran well, he just didn’t get into the rhythm he needed to be in. He’s probably a bit novicey to be in that box seat right in behind horses, he probably just needs that little bit of daylight. If he jumped a bit better I think he’d have run a bit better but no hard luck."

Hill set to go over fences

Knappers Hill (11/2) is now set to go chasing next season after landing today’s bet365 Select Hurdle by a neck under Bryony Frost.

Winning trainer Paul Nicholls said: “It’s really good for these two guys Paul (Vogt) and Paul (Barber) (owners). We were a bit worried about the ground and we were in one mind whether to run him or not, because the only time he’s been disappointing was here in the EBF Final on soft ground.

“We rode him different today and just took our time, I said to Bryony to let him creep into things and hope they don’t go too quick and see if he gets the trip and he did. He’ll go chasing next year, he’ll be a nice type for things like the Rising Stars at Wincanton so we’re looking forward to that now.”

Frost added: “We just took our time. He’s got so much ability and it was very easy. We cruised through in a little field and I enjoyed every moment of his jumping. Turning in the speed we hit was awesome, he’s a quality horse and he’s going to make some chaser next year. I couldn’t believe it was going our way, it’s probably the first race all day that has. It’s fantastic for the owners and this crowd is great

“I turned up at the yard as a kid and Mr Barber has always been there and Mr Vogt, they’ve always supported me, so to be able to ride a big winner like this for them at the end of the season is very special. It wasn’t due for my books today so you can’t take credit for that, but being able to take the opportunity is awesome. I’m rolling now, but don’t worry I’ll be rolling again next season!”

The final race of the 2022/23 Jump season was the bet365 Handicap Hurdle, which went the way of Crebilly (7/2), trained by Jonjo O’Neill and ridden by Jonjo O’Neill Jr. The success of the six year old handed a 46.25/1 treble on bet365 Jump Finale to owner JP McManus.

Winning trainer Jonjo O’Neill said: “He is a grand little horse and we will probably go chasing next year with him. He is a nice one to look forward to.

“It was too soft for him in the EBF Final as he got bogged down that day and he didn’t perform like the type of horse we think he is. It was a bit tacky out there but it was not as bad the last day here as they did well to be racing here to be fair. He likes a bit of cut but he doesn’t want it bottomless. I’ve not popped him over a fence but he has run in a point-to-point. He jumps his hurdles well so you hope there wouldn’t be much of an issue over them. I might drop him back to two miles over fences early on and see how we get on.

“I hope he will get further in time but we will take our time with him. Hopefully there is more to come over fences and he is likeable."

One two for McManus in opener

Having been named champion National Hunt owner for a 15th time earlier on Saturday, the famous green and gold silks of JP McManus made a sparkling start to the meeting courtesy of Jonbon and a 1-2 in the opening bet365 Novices' Championship Final Handicap Hurdle as Under Control (7/1) came home in front of stable companion Iberico Lord (15/2).

Four-year-old Doctor Dino filly Under Control, successful at Cheltenham just nine days ago, looked set for a comfortable success as she made smooth headway in the hands of Nico de Boinville to take the lead after the second last. Although she tired noticeably on the run in, she had enough reserves to hold on by a diminishing half-length from Iberico Lord.

Henderson, who saddled the first two horses home, said: “That was a good start to the end! She’s a sweet little thing. We’ve only had her a short time, Charlie Swann found her in France and then she went up to AP (McCoy)’s for a bit. There wasn’t much to her and she doesn’t look very big but she’s grown in stature the whole way through.

“It was a big ask to do that and we’ve gone from fast ground (at Cheltenham last week) and we were worried about the ground today (Soft. Good to Soft in places). It was a good test for her and it’s not been many days since her last run, to come out and do that is impressive. She probably got there a bit too soon, but it would have been alright for me as our horse was second too!

“She’s a little cracker and she’s never stopped improving, but that’s enough for the season. We were hard enough on her to go from Cheltenham to here, but the prize money was too good. I said to JP at Punchestown earlier in the week that it’s hard to ask her to go and do it again but she was qualified and it’s a huge prize – plus she’s got all summer now. My team have done so well, I’ve hardly seen these horses! We’ve been to Aintree, Ayr, Cheltenham and Punchestown and all I have done is found out if they’re alright!”

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