Jonbon rocked by Elixir De Nutz after error on Cheltenham Trials Day

Jonbon, Britain’s leading contender for the Queen Mother Champion Chase at Cheltenham in March, suffered a shock defeat at odds of 1-4 in his last race before the Festival on Saturday, as he went down by a neck to the 22-1 shot, Elixir De Nutz, in the Grade One Clarence House Chase, a result which gave the winner’s jockey, 18-year-old conditional Freddie Gingell, his first winner at the highest level.

Jonbon would have faced El Fabiolo, the favourite for the Champion Chase, in the Clarence House in its familiar slot at Ascot a week ago, and appeared to have a much more straightforward task after the race was re-arranged when its original date succumbed to the cold snap.

Nicky Henderson’s chaser made a serious mistake four out, however, which left him with plenty to do, and while he appeared to have worked his way back into contention, another sloppy jump at the last handed Elixir De Nutz a narrow advantage which he defended all the way up the hill. It was an emotional success for both Gingell and Joe Tizzard, the winner’s trainer, as Gingell is the son of Tizzard’s sister, Kim Gingell, who died in 2020 at the age of just 43.

Henderson said: “James said he did remarkably well to get back to where he did, but he had a fair bit of ground to make up. He didn’t see a nice stride at the last and I think if he had winged that – he just lost the momentum that let the other horse back. He’s lost a battle but not the war. I only saw one mistake. We were really looking forward to El Fabiolo last weekend and I can’t believe that has changed anything dramatically. We’ve just got to go and let him off a little bit and start the preparations for March.”

Quick GuideGreg Wood’s Sunday tipsShow

Doncaster: 12.20 Dysart Enos, 12.50 Storminhome, 1.15 Some Scope (nap), 2.00 Champagne Twist (nb), 2.35 Marie’s Rock,  3.05 Paricolor, 3.35 Little Pi, 4.10 Gwash.

Fontwell: 1.12 Saladins Son, 1.45 Kruger Park, 2.20 Shuil Ceoil, 2.55 Captain Claude, 3.25 Johnny Blue, 3.55 Southern Sam, 4.30 Bond Broker.

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Tizzard, who took over the licence from his father Colin at the start of last season, hailed a “special” day in his training career. “I didn’t come here thinking I would win a Grade One, but I was happy to take our chance with a horse who has been brilliant all season,” he said. “He bounces off this ground and drying ground all week has helped. Jonbon, what a mistake at the top of the hill, and he looked to have us beat. But we’ve probably outjumped him at the last. As long as they are all OK that’s all right, but it was our day today and it’s special.”