Jonbon bidding for record third Shloer Chase at Cheltenham

Like the leaves falling and premature Christmas adverts Jonbon and the Shloer Chase remains one of the unchanging rhythms of late autumn and, in that sense, seeing his name among the declarations for Friday is a reassuring sight.

Yet for all that Nicky Henderson's superstar chaser has reappeared in this race three times and run eight times in total here, debate about whether he actually likes it around Cheltenham or now needs further than two miles have never gone away.

In three runs in this race he has won two and finished second 12 months ago and overall his record at Cheltenham reads eight runs, two wins and six seconds. Away from Cheltenham (including his point-to-point win) he has 20 runs, 18 wins and two seconds.

If hitting the bar so many times here – he has finished runner-up in the Supreme Novices' (to stablemate Constitution Hill), Arkle, Champion Chase and Ryanair at the Festival – suggests a weakness, it is one Henderson is more than happy to accommodate in his stable.

Throw in the debut of Harry Cobden in the saddle for the first time and Henderson is relishing a fourth crack at the race.

“This is where the game begins again,” he said. “It's lovely to have him back because he's been part of the Cheltenham furniture for a lot of years and I know a lot of people will say it's not his favourite, but we are going to ignore the stats that say he doesn't like Cheltenham – he loves it!

“I don't know how many times he's run in this race, but it seems to be the standing place for him to start every season on the grounds that we're still staying at two miles. I think that's the major point of that and it leads you nicely into the Tingle Creek.

“The big issue really is his trip nowadays and whether he's genuinely still a two-miler. He has been going two and a half, and I suspect that helps him a little bit.

“But everybody is happy with him. Harry has sat on him a few times. Paddy (Murphy) rides him every day and nobody else is allowed on him because he has this wonderful mind and it doesn't like anything being out of sync. It's just routine, routine.

“He trusts Paddy and so do I and we leave it at that. Harry has come and had a sit on him. He gets on at the bottom of the schooling ground, jumps five fences and gets off again. That's all he's allowed and then Paddy gets on him again.

“I would seriously like to think he's quite a bit more forward than he was at this time last year. He has had one away day, which was good. He went to Kempton and he enjoyed that. He wasn't quite ready for it last year, I have to admit, but I think we're in good shape this year.”

Jonbon had his colours lowered in this race for the first time when beaten 15 lengths by L'Eau Du Sud before winning the Clarence House (two miles and a furlong), the Ascot Chase (two miles and five furlongs) and finishing second to Heart Wood in the Ryanair.

On the face of it, the 10-year-old has nothing of that calibre to contend with – but Henderson will be taking nothing for granted with a 6lb penalty to give away to three rivals and another summer on his stable favourite's back.

Gidleigh Park had an underwhelming campaign last season, pulled up behind Jonbon in the Clarence House, tried over longer trips and concluding with a fifth-place finish behind Grey Dawning in the Melling Chase at Aintree.

Saint Segal runs for Jane Williams and Ciaran Gethings, but while his stable is going well he appears to have work to do to bridge the gap between the best of Jonbon's efforts.

Upper Lambourn trainer Warren Greatrex is also under no illusion as to the size of the task in hand with Mighty Bandit , who racked up a hat-trick in handicap chases before finishing held in a Grade One novice chase at this trip at Aintree in April.

Greatrex said: “All has been good with Mighty Bandit over the summer. He's done well for the summer break and a rest – he seems in good order. Obviously we are going into open company. We know it's a tall order.

“With his rating he either goes into handicaps with top-weight and he's not the biggest. He also likes a small field, which he will get on Friday. I am under no illusion it will be tough on Friday, but we will start off at Cheltenham and then see where we go from there.”