Celebration time again for Jonbon backers

Jonbon can give Nicky Henderson more Grade One success on the final day of the jumps season in the bet365 Celebration Chase at Sandown on Saturday.

The perennial winner has not been seen since finishing 10 lengths behind Heart Wood in the Ryanair Chase at the Cheltenham Festival, but returns to a familiar hunting ground in this Esher circuit.

Henderson’s star 10-year-old is a two-time winner of this contest and was runner-up to Willie Mullins’ Il Etait Temps 12 months ago.

Owned by JP McManus, Jonbon has three more Grade One triumphs at this venue and it is hard to look elsewhere, despite the quick ground.

Doyen Quest should finally get his nose in front in graded company for champion jumps trainer Dan Skelton in the bet365 Oaksey Chase.

He has finished as runner-up at Listed and twice at Grade Two level before fourth in the Mildmay Novices’ Chase at the Grand National Festival earlier this month.

The eight-year-old likes to dictate the pace so has excuses for his Aintree performance last time out and should get his preferred going, having won on his last three starts on good ground. Skelton’s charge also marginally drops down in trip which should benefit him further.

The Alcester-based handler could be back in the winner’s enclosure following the bet365 Select Hurdle with Kabral Du Mathan.

Fourth on his last start in the Stayers’ Hurdle at Prestbury Park, he should be refreshed with a 44-day break as the six-year-old drops back in distance on his return.

Kabral Du Mathan lost a shoe at Cheltenham, but he did weaken towards the end, so everything points towards a stronger showing this time around.

On the Flat at Haydock, Pursuit Of Love can come out on top in a hot Darley EBF Novice Stakes.

Charlie Appleby’s three-year-old, who is a full-brother to Group Two winner Fanny Logan, eased to victory on the all-weather in February and has the pedigree to be a useful sort over 2400m should he translate his ability to turf against opposition that includes Amo Racing’s big-money buy Poker.

Heather Main’s Zoulu Chief can maintain his fine form since being gelded last July when going in the Caffreys Black Stout King Richard III Cup Handicap at Leicester.

The five-year-old has not finished out of the top three in his previous five starts, including winning on the Tapeta at Wolverhampton in November, and remains on a workable mark of 90.

At Doncaster, Amora Queen can get back on the winning trail for Charlie Johnston in the British Stallion Studs EBF Premier Fillies’ Handicap.

She won over 1400m at Town Moor on debut, added another success at Chelmsford next time out and finished her juvenile campaign in Group One territory, which shows Amora Queen’s potential capabilities should she take to 2000m.

Dancingwithmyself aims to go one better than last year’s second in the M.C.H. Hutchinson Memorial Trophy Handicap at Ripon, while Godolphin-bred Chasing Times puts his unbeaten record at risk on the all-weather at Southwell in the Book The Bistro In Sherwood Restaurant Novice Stakes. – Press Association

SELECTIONS:

DONCASTER: Racew 1 – 17.35 Mojito, Race 2 – 18.10 Proposal, Race 3 – 18.45 Time To Take Off, Race 4 – 19.15 Amora Queen, Race 5 – 19.45 Al Azd, Race 6 – 20.15 The Cursor, Race 7 – 20.45 Queen Of Good News.

HAYDOCK: Race 1 – 14.25 Pursuit Of Love, Race 2 – 15.00 Symbol Of Majesty, Race 3 – 15.35 Caburn, Race 4 – 16.10 Winter Flower, Race 5 – 16.45 Commanding Officer, Race 6 – 17.20 Jenny Jerome, Race 7 – 17.55 Fiscal Policy.

LEICESTER: Race 1 – 14.30 Alpha Legend, Race 2 – 15.05 Zoulu Chief, Race 3 – 15.44 Under The Twilight, Race 4 – 16.19 Von Krolock, Race 5 – 16.55 King Of Thebes, Race 6 – 17.30 Evelyn’s Phoenix, Race 7 – 18.05 Lion Of Mali.

LIMERICK: Race 1 – 14.35 Rayzera, Race 2 – 15.10 Dark Leader, Race 3 – 15.40 Spacebound, Race 4 – 16.15 Teffian Warrior, Race 5 – 16.50 Faoladh, Race 6 – 17.25 Crypto Force, Race 7 – 18.00 Near Perfection, Race 8 – 18.35 Khormor Syd.

NAVAN: Race 1 – 14.20 Asdana, Race 2 – 14.55 West Of Eden, Race 3 – 15.30 Charles Darwin, Race 4 – 16.05 Scandinavia, Race 5 – 16.40 Emmeleia, Race 6 – 17.15 Latin America, Race 7 – 17.50 Justenzia, Race 8 – 18.25 Trubshaw.

RIPON: Race 1 – 14.40 Navy Light, Race 2 – 15.15 Triumph, Race 3 – 16.00 No More Bolero, Race 4 – 16.35 Dancingwithmyself, Race 5 – 17.10 Dyonisos, Race 6 – 17.45 Keats House, Race 7 – 18.20 Vencedora.

SANDOWN: Race 1 – 14.13 La Luna Artista, Race 2 – 14.45 Minella Yoga, Race 3 – 15.20 Doyen Quest, Race 4 – 15.55 JONBON (NAP), Race 5 – 16.30 Havaila, Race 6 – 17.02 Kabral Du Mathan, Race 7 – 17.40 Calimystic, Race 8 – 18.15 Listentoyourheart.

SOUTHWELL: Race 1 – 18.30 Clover Time, Race 2 – 19.00 Hickton, Race 3 – 19.30 Chasing Time, Race 4 – 20.00 Farasi Lane, Race 5 – 20.30 Luna Celeste, Race 6 – 21.00 Delinquent, Race 7 – 21.30 Marry The Night.