Legendary jockey Sir AP McCoy has named the one horse who can get the job done at the Cheltenham Festival.
The 20-time champion rode 31 winners at the meeting, including in the Cheltenham Gold Cup and Champion Hurdle. Since retirement he has combined a role working for billionaire owner JP McManus with regular stints as an ITV Racing pundit and ambassador for bookmaker William Hill .
McManus, almost certain to end the week as top owner, will have a host of leading fancies running in his famous green and gold colours.
Among the most fancied of his team are Majborough in the Arkle, The New Lion in the Turners, Jonbon in the Champion Chase, Fact To File in the Ryanair, Kopeck De Me in the County Hurdle or Martin Pipe and Dinoblue in the Mares’ Chase.
And McCoy has a better insight than most into the chances of the McManus team, and one horse in particular who excites him the most.
Speaking at William Hill’s Cheltenham Festival preview night , Hill’s ambassador said: “My Cheltenham Festival banker has to be Jonbon in the Champion Chase.
“I know that many people have tried to pick holes in him and his profile for not yet winning a championship race at the Cheltenham Festival, but I think there are definitely excuses for the times he’s been beaten at Cheltenham.”
Jonbon, trained by Nicky Henderson, has won 17 of his 20 starts and claimed his ninth victory at Grade 1 level when he defeated Energumene in the Clarence House Chase at Ascot in January.
He did not run at last year’s Festival but his three defeats have all come at the track, in the 2022 Supreme, behind Constitution Hill, the 2023 Arkle and last January when the Clarence House was run at Ascot. He has won at track, defeating Edwardstone in the 2023 Shloer Chase.
Jonbon is 8-11 favourite with William Hill for the Champion Chase and McCoy explained: “In the Supreme, he went at a rapid pace and was obviously racing against an all-time great in Constitution Hill.
“In the Arkle he ran very well behind El Fabiolo, who was the bees’ knees at the time, and then things didn’t go right for him in the Clarence House last year.
“Everything has gone right for him this season and I think he’s just the most awesome specimen. He’s a horse I really love, and I think he just gets the job done for JP and the team this year.”
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