C1 | 5+
Winner GBP £140,325 - 4 runners
2m 3f 200y
Going: Good to Soft
Surface: T
The Cheltenham curse continued for JONBON (2) when he was second at short odds in the G1 Queen Mother Champion Chase last time making a shuddering mistake after suffering trouble at the start. Can return to winning ways and prove successful defending his crown in this contest. EL FABIOLO (1) looked a superstar winning his first six starts tackling fences. Needs to prove he retains that ability after a shock defeat when second in the G2 Webster Cup Chase at Navan last month. Racing for trainer Willie Mullins and could prove the main danger if building on that. Forecast good ground is a slight concern for PROTEKTORAT (4) although it’s tough to ignore this former G1 course winner who finished a respectable fourth tackling the trip in the G1 Ryanair Chase at Cheltenham. MATATA (3) rounds out the quartet.