2023 Novice Chasers

[Altior]

Jonbon won't like it up him when he has a fight on his hands. Think he'll spit the dummy and be found wanting.

[opatcho]

Yeah, I’m a little cautious this year as I thought Gordon would have had a decent festival last March, and he didn’t. He has had more time now and I like the way he has campaign most of his horses - bringing them forward during the season instead of peaking them for their first 1-2 runs

It looks like he’s slowly coming back, and it could be this festival where we start to see him win some of the big grade 1’s

[Exar Essay]

Jonbon won't like it up him when he has a fight on his hands. Think he'll spit the dummy and be found wanting.

Like at Aintree last year.

[Altior]

Like at Aintree last year.

Watching back the Irish Arkle I just cannot get over how impressive El Fab was given he jumped poorly and found the rhythm set by Dysart Dynamo extremely hard to keep up with it. Then he finishes like that. Incredibly impressive. Jonbon could just be like his brother and nothing will faze him but there is a small bit of evidence there are some chinks in the armour.

[robith]

Like at Aintree last year.

Beat me to it!

[Exar Essay]

Watching back the Irish Arkle I just cannot get over how impressive El Fab was given he jumped poorly and found the rhythm set by Dysart Dynamo extremely hard to keep up with it. Then he finishes like that. Incredibly impressive. Jonbon could just be like his brother and nothing will faze him but there is a small bit of evidence there are some chinks in the armour.

Oh I agree. El Fabiolo looks quality and I think I prefer him of the two, just. But I don't think not liking a fight is a criticism that can be levelled at Jonbon.

[Istabraq]

Bold prediction, El Fabiolo will get backed into Arkle favourite…

[Outlaw]

Bold prediction, El Fabiolo will get backed into Arkle favourite…

Tbf it’s not that bold, he deserves to be JF at present after the weekend and barring Jonbon pulling out all the stops this weekend Jonbon as likely to drift on the day as EF is get backed in is fair I think.

[Carnage at Taunton]

Watching back the Irish Arkle I just cannot get over how impressive El Fab was given he jumped poorly and found the rhythm set by Dysart Dynamo extremely hard to keep up with it. Then he finishes like that. Incredibly impressive. Jonbon could just be like his brother and nothing will faze him but there is a small bit of evidence there are some chinks in the armour.

What evidence is that? Could do with some help splitting these two.

[Carnage at Taunton]

Yeah, no doubt it's close. When it's close I like to side with the horse that has beat the best horse/horses, which is clearly El Fabiolo. We know that when El Fabiolo is up against 155-160 horses, he's got enough to beat them (and pretty easily), whereas I think everything in the Irish Arkle would beat the likes of Monmiral and Boothill, so that's a question mark over Jonbon. Other people will go more for the visuals, which is a perfectly fine way to look at it too, and obviously Jonbon is the better jumper of a fence, albeit he has never really had to jump under any real pressure. I'd side with El Fabiolo in the travelling department though.

There's also the question of whether Cheltenham will light Jonbon up like it did last year, similarly for El Fabiolo who has no Cheltenham experience at all. Gunna be a cracking race!

Fair comments.
I do just prefer Jonbon, but would be no surprise if either won.

[AaronLad]

His owners and trainer said so. Said they’d never go back. Messed up numerous jumps too. Stacks up too if you look at his comparative ratings.

You thought he ran his race?

Hopefully we'll see how Tommy's oscar goes against jonbon in warwick.
Funny how they say they don't like to travel too far, warwick must be a very similar distance to cheltenham for them.
And as for the cheltenham run, yes i thought he ran his race, i think he could do with a better jockey. His win at carlisle would also show he handles undulating courses.

[Benjy23]

It's not going to happen but it'd be great to see Jonbon at Newbury this weekend. Warwick is going to provide no test at all surely.

[opatcho]

Henderson loves a test-less race, Warwick it is

[Carnage at Taunton]

It's not going to happen but it'd be great to see Jonbon at Newbury this weekend. Warwick is going to provide no test at all surely.

Would love to see him in the Game Spirit, but I think you are right it’s more likely the Kingmaker

[FinalFurlong91]

It's not going to happen but it'd be great to see Jonbon at Newbury this weekend. Warwick is going to provide no test at all surely.

I very much hope not

Iv got tickets to warwick