Jonbon’s biggest danger? El Fabiolo cut for the Arkle after 19-length chase win
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El Fabiolo: made a winning chasing debut at Fairyhouse for Paul Townend on Wednesday
Caroline Norris (racingpost.com/photos)
Wednesday: Fairyhouse
A ready 19-length success on his chasing debut has seen El Fabiolo become Jonbon’s biggest threat in the two-mile chasing division, at least according to some bookmakers, with the Willie Mullins-trained youngster cut to between 7-2 and 11-2 (from 7-1) for a potential Arkle bid.
Winning rider Paul Townend suggested the Simon Munir and Isaac Souede-owned five-year-old also had the potential to step up in trip from his 2m beginners’ chase strike if asked to do so, and layers make him no bigger than 10-1 for the Turners Novices’ Chase over 2m4f.
It was not a foot-perfect round of jumping from the 150-rated hurdler, but he showed the potential for him to develop into a high-class operator in this sphere when gaining more experience.
He has now won three of his four starts since joining the champion trainer, with El Fabiolo’s sole defeat came when beaten a neck by Jonbon in the Grade 1 Top Novices’ Hurdle at Aintree last April.
Townend said: “He’ll learn from today, I think. He’s not there yet but there’s a brilliant jump in him. When I wanted him to get in [close] a couple of times he kept going a little bit, but I think when you go to the well it’s there.
El Fabiolo (left): was a neck behind Jonbon (right) at last season’s Grand National festival
Alan Crowhurst (Getty)
“He learned to survive. He didn’t have much racing last year but I think he’s going to be a smart horse. His run against Jonbon looks good now. He looked a chaser and probably wasn’t over-raced for that reason last season.”
Victory in Wednesday’s rescheduled Irish Stallion Farms EBF Beginners Chase marked back-to-back wins in the race for Mullins, Townend, Munir and Souede.
It was in the same contest that Irish Arkle scorer Blue Lord made a winning chasing debut last season.
Townend added: “A better race will suit El Fabiolo. Trip-wise, he could end up going up in trip as well – he’s versatile enough I think. If you wanted him, you could use his jumping and stay at that trip.
“Any time I asked him [for a big leap] he was good, and anytime I went to let him in [closer] he was just a bit unsure – in a good race you don’t get in too often.”
Results, replays and analysis
Sporting Life Arkle (Cheltenham, March 14, 2023)
Coral: 11-8 Jonbon, 4 Appreciate It, El Fabiolo, 8 Sir Gerhard, 10 Mighty Potter, 12 Dysart Dynamo, Fil Dor, State Man
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FIRST PUBLISHED 12:50PM, DEC 21 2022