Henderson not too despondent following Jonbon’s eclipse

Like all experienced generals, one lost battle is not enough to deter Nicky Henderson and his most loyal lieutenant Jonbon.

The ultimate strategist, there is no one better at getting his troops to peak when it matters most than the master of Seven Barrows and although he had to watch Jonbon go down on his shield at the hands of Dan Skelton’s L’Eau Du Sud in the Shloer Chase on Friday, they will soon go toe-to-toe again.

That will be in the Tingle Creek at Sandown on December 6 and after his younger rival delivered a timely reminder that Jonbon may no longer have nearly everything his own way in the two-mile chasing division, Henderson is certain his 10-time Grade One winner will be ready next time.

Henderson said: “He may have lost a battle, but the war is in three weeks’ time.

“This race was much hotter than it was in previous years, but I don’t think you can just say Cheltenham is his bogey because it is not.

“He has won this the last two years, but it’s never his most impressive performance of the season first time out – he’s got away with it the last two years but by the time you get to Sandown, brilliant.

“It’s three weeks away and that’s not far away and if they re-ran this race in two weeks’ time you couldn’t go anyway. We got this run under his belt and as much as we didn’t want to do it in this ground we had to do it to get to Sandown – we had to do it.

“It’s quite a big gap to bridge, but we know where the improvement has come from before and I have no doubt there will be some invasion coming over from Ireland as well we’ll have to consider.”

One of those invaders from Ireland looks likely to be Willie Mullins’ Il Etait Temps who is sure to temporarily at least divert the attention of both the cricket-loving Henderson and his owner, former England wicket keeper Craig Kieswetter, from the action in the Ashes.

Also in the line-up will be his Cheltenham conqueror who will return to the scene of his novice Grade One victory last term, but Henderson is more than happy to delay any thoughts of moving up in trip.

“It certainly wasn’t Nico’s (de Boinville) reaction that he needed further and he didn’t need any further today. Dan’s horses are pretty fit and they served it up to him today,” continued Henderson.

“Matata was always going to make it (the running) as much as we like to make it and Nico was always happy to just let him rock and roll and he was enjoying himself. I just think in this ground his jumping isn’t as flamboyant as it can be on better ground.

“You never want to go out in that sort of ground first time out and you can’t forget as you get older it gets a bit harder – and I’m talking from experience! But we’re there and we’re all right. I guess we’ll see them all again in three weeks’ time.”