I met the next three fences spot on and then put it to bed well. “I was always quite confident from three quarters of a mile out. Harry set his alight and winged it and although I didn’t make a mistake Calico got going and I was kind of just chasing from there. “I was going a good gallop and wasn’t really wanting to press along too much bearing in mind it’s a trial. He jumped super again there and I was quite comfortable going to that fence there (down the back straight). I schooled him the other morning and he schooled very well but he was very fresh. "I was very happy with him," Coleman tells Nick LuckĬoleman said post-race: “It’s a prep run and we knew he had plenty to work on. Coral make El Fabiolo their 5-4 favourite from 7-4, with Jonbon out to 13-8 from even money. He was pushed out by the bookmakers for the Arkle at Cheltenham next month, with Betfair going 2-1 from 11-8 and making Willie Mullins’ El Fabiolo their 11-10 favourite.
Once in front the race was never in doubt, but was rather workmanlike in winning by five and a half lengths. It took Jonbon a couple of fences to realise he had a race on his hands and Coleman was happy to challenge around Calico’s outside on the final bend.
Halfway down the back straight Harry Skelton sensed an opportunity and sent Calico up Jonbon’s inside, met the next fence on a perfect stride and soon found himself three lengths clear.
Sent off at 1-16 to beat just one rival – Dan Skelton’s Calico – following the morning withdrawal of two others, his trademark zip appeared to be missing at times.Īidan Coleman sent Nicky Henderson’s charge into an early lead and while he was doing things easily enough, he was not getting away from Calico. Jonbon was replaced as Arkle favourite, despite maintaining his unbeaten record over fences in the Virgin Bet Kingmaker Novices’ Chase at Warwick. Additional reporting by Nick Seddon at Warwick
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