Two-time Celebration Chase winner JONBON is a confirmed runner for Saturday’s big Sandown race, as the Nicky Henderson star chaser bids to end the jumps season on a high.
Jonbon A Confirmed Celebration Chase Runner On Sandown Jumps Finale Card
Racing fans heading to Sandown Park on Saturday will welcome the news that track lover Jonbon is being aimed at the Celebration Chase – a prize the JP McManus star chaser has won twice in the past.
Jonbon won the £99k prize back in 2023 and 2024 but failed to land the three-timer last year – when finding the subsequent Champion Chase winner Il Etait Temps 9-lengths too good.
But the good news for Jonbon fans is that last year’s winner isn’t making the trip over – with a date at next week’s Punchestown Festival more likely for the Cheltenham Festival winner.
Meaning the Nicky Henderson-trained Jonbon will have a much easier task in the ITV Racing scheduled contest on Saturday.
He’ll be looking to be the first horse win back the Celebration Chase since Cenkos in 2004 and also join Altior as a three-time winner of the race.
WATCH: Jonbon Winning The 2024 Celebration Chase at Sandown Park
Jonbon Has A Top Sandown Record
Jonbon was last seen running second in the Ryanair Chase at Cheltenham and bypassed the recent Aintree Grand National fixture.
But he returns to Sandown – a track he loves with five wins and two seconds from his seven starts at the Esher venue.
In addition to his two Celebration Chase wins, Jonbon has also won the Tingle Creek Chase at Sandown twice.
The 10yold will be heading to Sandown on Saturday with a record that’s seen him hit the TOP TWO in ALL 28 career runs.
Amassing a staggering £1.7m in prize money in the process.
A Jonbon Win Will Make Nicky Henderson The Winning-Most Celebration Chase Trainer
If Jonbon can win the 2026 Celebration Chase, he’d also provide trainer Nicky Henderson with a record extending eighth win in the race.
Hendo currently sits on seven wins with Paul Nicholls, but with the Ditcheat yard (Nicholls) not having a Celebration Chase runner – then if Jonbon can win the pot for a third time, he’d move Henderson top of the tree outright.
The other yards with more than one success are Gary Moore (2) and the Pipe stable (3).
Jonbon would also become only the third Celebration Chase winner aged 10 – joining Sprinter Sacre and Cenkos.
While Jonbon’s rider on Saturday – Nico de Boinville – has five Celebration Chase wins five wins to this name and is the winning-most jockey in the history of the race.
Six Of The Last Nine Celebration Chase Favourites Have Won
Saturday’s big Sandown race has also been a kind one for favourite backers, with SIX of the last nine jollies winning.
Being the top-rated in the 2026 race, no Il Etait Temps and a two-time hero, then we can expect Jonbon to be one of the Celebration Chase favourites on Saturday.
Jonbon Career In Numbers
- Runs: 28
- Wins: 20
- Chase Wins: 15
- Top 2 Finishes: 28
- Career Winnings: £1,734,775
Celebration Chase Runners 2026: Who Are The Main Dangers To Jonbon?
Saturday’s Celebration Chase runners will see a maximum of just seven runners heading to post.
With the final declarations out on Thursday 24th April.
Thistle Ask, who was second to Jonbon in the Clarence House Chase at Ascot in January (watch below) is expected to line-up.
While shock 50/1 Aintree Maghull Novices’ Chase winner Mirabad could head to post.
Both Thistle Ask and Mirabad are housed by this season’s champion jumps trainer Dan Skelton, who is yet to win the Celebration Chase.
- Brookie
- Edwardstone
- Jonbon
- JPR One
- Mirabad
- Solness
- Thistle Ask
WATCH: Jonbon Winning The 2026 Clarence House Chase at Ascot
When Is The Bet365 Celebration Chase 2026?
📅 Date: Saturday, 25th April 2026
⌚ Time: 2:55pm
🏇 Racecourse: Sandown
🔄 Trip: 1m 7 1/2f
💷 Winner: £99,663
📺 TV: ITV Racing / Racing TV
Celebration Chase Winners (Last 10 Years)
- 2025 – Il Etait Temps (9/2)
- 2024 – Jonbon 15/8
- 2023 – Jonbon 8/13 fav
- 2022 – Greaneteen (11/8 fav)
- 2021 – Greaneteen (13/2)
- 2020 – No Race
- 2019 – Altior (1/6 fav)
- 2018 – Altior (2/11 fav)
- 2017 – Altior (30/100 fav)
- 2016 – Sprinter Sacre (11/10)
WATCH: Il Etait Temps Winning The 2025 Celebration Chase at Sandown
