Jonbon to face four in Ascot test Jonbon is set to face four rivals as he bids to maintain his unbeaten record in the Howden Kennel Gate Novices’ Hurdle at Ascot on Friday. The full-brother to the brilliant Douvan made a winning hurdling debut at Newbury last month to add to his victories in a bumper and point-to-point. The exciting five-year-old, trained by Nicky Henderson, now takes the next step in his education in this Grade Two contest. Leading the opposition is the Paul Nicholls-trained Knappers Hill, who has won both his hurdle races to date as well as three bumpers — including a Grade Two event at the Grand National meeting. I Like To Move It has to carry a 5lb penalty for a victory at this level at Cheltenham last month that took the Nigel Twiston-Davies-trained four-year-old’s perfect tally over the smaller obstacles to three. Dan Skelton saddles Newbury mares’ Listed scorer Elle Est Belle with Irish trainer Lorna Fowler’s Colonel Mustard completing the quintet. Five have also been declared for the Grade Two Howden Noel Novices’ Chase. The two-mile three-furlong heat may be without Bob Olinger but it is still an intriguing contest with the runners headed by the Skelton-trained Faivoir, a winner over the course and distance last month. Pic D’orhy represents the Nicholls stable with Jane Williams’ Gladiateur Allen, the Gary Moore-trained Fifty Ball and Richard Rowe’s Up The Straight the other runners.
