Star chasers Jonbon and Edwardstone set to renew rivalry in Shloer Chase at Cheltenham
JONBON and Edwardstone are both on course for the Shloer Chase on the opening day of the November Meeting at Cheltenham.
Nicky Henderson confirmed his star two-miler, who ended last season with impressive Grade 1 wins at Aintree and Sandown, would in all likelihood get his season up and running on Friday, despite drying ground.
And Alan King is also happy to let his former Cheltenham Festival hero Edwardstone take his chance in the big Grade 2.
The pair met three times last year and Jonbon, currently the 4-1 favourite in the antepost betting for the Champion Chase, came out on top each time, including in the Shloer this time last year.
Jonbon, was given a racecourse gallop at Newbury over the weekend and has been pleasing Hendo ahead of his return to action.
However, he will not be joined on Friday by promising stablemate Shanagh Bob, who is entered for the three-mile novice chase but will be saved for softer ground.
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Hendo said: "This weather is driving us all insane, but all being well he’ll be there.
"He’s in terrific form, he had a gallop around Newbury on Saturday and went very well, and he’d schooled nicely the previous Thursday.
"(Cheltenham clerk) Jon Pullin is very good, I went there last week and the track was in good shape.
"As long as it’s safe, we won't have an issue. And the benefit for us is the ground will probably be the slowest on the three days on Friday, given they'll be watering.
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"Jonbon didn’t do much wrong last year, he won three Grade 1s, it was one of those things that we had to miss Cheltenham in March but that's water under the bridge now."
And King is hoping Edwardstone can begin another fruitful campaign at Cheltenham at the end of the week, with the Shloer being used as a warm-up for the Tingle Creek at Sandown in December.
King said: "He seems very well, the plan all autumn has been the Shloer so we’ll head there on Friday.
"I’m hoping the ground will be ok for him, the older he’s got he doesn’t really want it heavy these days. It would have to be a lot quicker than they’re calling it for me to no run him."
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