Betfair Ascot Chase
Grade 1, Ascot 15:35
£175,000 guaranteed,
5yo plus,
2m 5f 8y, Class 1  
Saturday 14th February 2026

1 Jonbon 4/9F
2 Pic d'Orhy 5/2
3 Blow Your Wad 33/1
6 ran Distances: 1½l, 14l, 2¾l
Time: 5m 17.35s (slow by 0.85s)

Jonbon had to dig as deep as he ever has to see off the gallant Pic d’Orhy in a thrilling renewal.

Winning at the highest level for a 12th time, only Kauto Star now stands above him for that modern-day accolade.

Harry Cobden ensured he was going to test Jonbon’s stamina to the limit and Nicky Henderson’s star briefly looked in trouble, but Nico de Boinville knows him ever so well now and the 4-9 favourite came out on top by a length and a half.

It continued the winner’s remarkable record of never finishing out of the first two in his career.

Nicky Henderson said: “That was a proper race. Two older horses, ten and eleven, they put up the race of the season surely as that was proper stuff. They jumped and they fought and they traded it. It was in the balance all the way, but he stays. 

“It is funny as he ran the same sort of race in the Clarence House. He looked in trouble on the bend. He got home because of two miles and he got home because of two miles five, so he gets the trip well. You get the same race whatever you do with him. He has just been something special. I know JP just loves him, and don’t we all. You don’t get many like that. That record of only being in the first two says it all really. Even if he gets beaten he doesn’t lie down. 

“We hoped we might have that bit of two mile speed to go and get at him, but it wasn’t that it was actually stamina that got him there. It was a blistering turn off foot like an old two miler might have. It was proper I want to win, and he does want to win. It is extraordinary. 

“He wouldn’t win many gallops, but we don’t want horses to win gallops to be fair. You have to be kind to him in a funny way and make it easier for him. He just wants it and Nico gave him another lovely ride. He has jumped well, and his jumping was good as you will see, but you are not having to gun him today. Over two miles you have to put the gun to his head. Today, I suspect he has enjoyed it a bit more today as Nico hasn’t had to be ask, ask, ask. It was terrific. 

“It was a worry the quick turnaround. Paddy rides him every day and we have had to rely on him the whole way through. We let him have a fortnight of wandering around, picking flowers and admiring the view. Then we have done a fortnight of getting him back into the system properly.

“He is unique in here. He will fight out there, but he is as soft as butter at home. There he is a tiger, but at home is soft and lovely. He has got to have his roll and pick of grass. Nico only sits on him for five fences and then he gets off. That is all he is allowed, but that is the horse.

“I hope this draws crowds in. Races like that don’t come up very often, but there have been some epic battles out there. Grundy was in the same yard. His box was fifty yards away from Jonbon’s box.”

“He deserves to win a race at the Festival. That is two big races in four weeks, but he turns around well. He goes to Cheltenham, Aintree and Sandown usually. I felt in the Celebration Chase last season he was as flat as I’ve seen him. 

"We will see what JP wants to do as he has got lots of balls to chuck up in the air. I would have thought the Ryanair would have to be the race. I can’t see why you would want to come back to two miles, and you are not going to go any further lets face it.

Betfair Ascot Chase
6 ran
Going: Good to Soft, Soft in places

POS. DIST HORSE AGE WGT TRAINER JOCKEY SP
1    Jonbon 10 11-10 Nicky Henderson Nico de Boinville 4/9F
2 1½ Pic D'Orhy 11 11-10 Paul Nicholls Harry Cobden 5/2
3 14 Blow Your Wad 8 11-10 Gary & Josh Moore Freddie Mitchell 33/1
4 2¾ Edwardstone 12 11-10 Alan King Tom Cannon 11/1
5 21 Heltenham 9 11-10 Dan Skelton Tristan Durrell 50/1
PU Classic Maestro 8 11-10 Jennie Candlish Luke Scott 125/1

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