Paddy Flood - 'Young James Bowen is a cracking rider and I was delighted he rode Jonbon' The 2026 Clarence House Chase at Ascot was won by Jonbon, who produced a strong performance to land the Grade 1 by a few lengths for Nicky Henderson with James Bowen in the saddle. The race had a dramatic moment when Il Etait Temps, one of the leading contenders, suffered a heavy fall late on but thankfully got back up, while Thistle Ask ran a bold race in defeat after setting much of the pace. Jonbon’s victory underlined his consistency at the highest level and strengthened his credentials heading towards the Cheltenham Festival, with many viewing the performance as another example of his toughness and class despite the race being a relatively small-field renewal. Speaking on irishracing.com’s Irish Angle, Emma Nagle reflected on the big race: "Jonbon came out on top there. It was great to see Il Etait Temps getting back up from a tired-looking fall. He was fairly winded after that, I’d say. But good old Jonbon is back in the winners' enclosure. "It was a good performance from him - brilliant, really, and a great performance from the rider as well." Paddy Flood noted the talent of the jockey: "Young James Bowen is a cracking rider, and I was delighted he rode him. I was also delighted that Nicky Henderson wasn’t going around looking at what jockeys were available or anything like that. "That bit of loyalty can make or break a young man’s career. James had pressure going out there, he was the first to admit he got it wrong at Cheltenham when he rode him a few seasons back. He was over-exuberant that day, and the horse is prone to a mistake." Jonbon bred to be exceptional Jonbon is a top-class National Hunt chaser trained by Nicky Henderson and owned by JP McManus, widely regarded as one of the most consistent and high-quality two-mile chasers of his generation. A full brother to the great Douvan, he showed high-class form from early in his career and built a reputation for relentless galloping, slick jumping, and remarkable consistency - rarely finishing out of the first two. Jonbon has won multiple Grade 1 races, including the Clarence House Chase, Shloer Chase, and Melling Chase, often dominating small but elite fields. Out of a Saint des Saints mare, Star Face (FR), and by Walk In The Park, Jonbon was bred on paper to be exceptional. He was first sold at the Tattersalls Derby Sale by Tom Whelan’s Church View Stables, where he was purchased by Paul Holden and Michael Shefflin for €140,000. Seventeen months later, he won his point-to-point in the hands of the legendary Derek O’Connor for Ellmarie Holden. That same month, Jonbon was entered in the Yorton Sale and sold to JP McManus for a tidy £570,000, marking the next major step in what would become a top-class racing career. Paddy Flood on Jonbon: "What a horse as well. You know, how many horses ever pay back their sale price? Very, very few do. This one has paid back and more, and given JP and the team some great days. "There’s still plenty there. The legs are a little bit older, but I’d be shooting for the Ryanair now. I think he’d be a bit more comfortable at Cheltenham over that trip." Il Etait Temps given the OK Il Etait Temps is a high-class National Hunt chaser, best known for his electric jumping and raw ability over two miles. Trained by Willie Mullins, he first made his name as a novice hurdler before reaching the top level over fences, where his natural speed and attacking style stood out immediately. At his best, he’s capable of blowing races apart with bold, fast jumping, but that same exuberance has also made him prone to mistakes, particularly under pressure in championship races. When he gets into a rhythm, he looks exceptional; when things go wrong, it can happen quickly. Because of that, he’s often described as a horse of huge talent but fine margins, and his career has been defined by flashes of brilliance mixed with moments of frustration. Paddy Flood added: "I was disappointed with Il Etait Temps. He just never caught the eye. You were always a bit worried if you’d backed him, and Paul never looked comfortable. "Something was missing at the weekend. Thank God he’s up, but I wouldn’t be backing him for Cheltenham after such a heavy fall. That’s going to take a hell of a lot out of a horse - badly winded, a really bad fall, and lucky to come out the other side of it."
