Cheltenham Festival 2025: Incredible Jonbon can finally get off the mark with victory in the Queen Mother Champion Chase

Nico de Boinville and Jonbon were stylish winners last time out, taking the Clarence House Chase at Ascot with ease in January (Picture: Getty Images) Pints of the black stuff will be sunk in record numbers at the Cheltenham Festival if Rachael Blackmore is first past the post for a second year in a row with Captain Guinness in the Queen Mother Champion Chase, especially at a monster price with bookmakers. But it’s fair to assume anyone who says they’re overlooking Nicky Henderson’s Jonbon must have lost their punting senses after being on the lash for a couple of days.  Now let’s be honest about this, Nico de Boinville’s ride doesn’t have an exemplary record in the Cotswolds compared to everywhere else in the country. Jonbon has been unbeatable away from Prestbury Park, and especially impressive at Sandown, and his three defeats in 20 races in which he has never finished worse than second, have all been at the Gloucestershire racecourse. Two of those reversals were at the Cheltenham Festival – in the 2022 Supreme Novices when he was pummelled by stablemate Constitution Hill, although in mitigation he did lose a shoe, and the following year when Willie Mullins’ El Fabiolo was too good. Get personalised updates on Arsenal everyday Wake up to find news on your club in your inbox every morning with Metro’s Football Newsletter. Sign up to our newsletter and then select your team in the link we’ll send you so we can get football news tailored to you. Jonbon has nine Grade 1 victories to his credit and even if he is a tad below his majestic best, he still looks too strong for the opposition at 10/11 with Ladbrokes, Coral and William Hill among others. Anyone wanting to play at bigger odds for a Cheltenham day two top tip should dip into William Hill’s market without Jonbon and Marine Nationale to back Found A Fifty at 9/2. A respectable second in last year’s Arkle, Gordon Elliott’s runner was in great form this season until being pulled up at Leopardstown at Christmas with a nasal problem and is expected to produce a big effort with Jack Kennedy on board. Ballyburn and Paul Townend won the Novices Hurdle at Cheltenham last March (Picture: Getty Images) Galvin is one of the bets of the week in the preceding race, the Cross Country Chase, and will be suited by drying ground. Fourth in last year’s Grand National over a further distance than this means stamina is not a concern and he’s 4/1 with Hills, Coral and Ladbrokes.  The New Lion, an impressive winner of The Challow at Newbury, can win the Turners Novices Hurdle for Dan Skelton at 15/8 with William Hill and Betway and after getting day two off to a fine start it would be wise to go big on Ballyburn, triumphant in last year’s Turners and in dominant form this season, in the Novices’ Chase. His only recent defeat was to Sir Gino at Kempton at Christmas and that’s certainly no disgrace and the Mullins mount is evens with Coral, Hills, Ladbrokes and more. Harry Fry’s Beat The Bat appeals each-way at 14/1 with Sky Bet, who will pay out on eight places, in the Coral Cup while My Mate Mozzie is 7/1 with Paddy Power for the Grand Annual and Bambino Fever can hit a home run in the Champion Bumper at 13/2 with the same firm. Villa resurgence can continue Aston Villa are steadying the ship after taking on water during a stormy run which saw them win just three times in ten matches. They have since won their last three, including last week’s 3-1 victory at Club Bruges in the Champions League round of 16 first leg, and they can finish the job in front of the Holte End at 4/6 with Betfred.   Marco Asensio has proved a shrewd signing for Aston Villa (Picture: Getty Images) Marco Asensio cashed for us in Belgium by scoring at any time and can do so again at 23/10 with Paddy Power and Betfair. Gary Lineker 'sad' over downfall of Arsenal flop who was once brilliant Thomas Tuchel hints at first England squad with message to Premier League quartet Sir Jim Ratcliffe names five Man Utd players who are 'overpaid' including £86m flop Where did all those goals come from in Arsenal’s 7-1 victory in their round of 16 trip to PSV Eindhoven? The Gunners inability to hit the net has seen them drop 15 points behind Premier League leaders Liverpool, who are disappearing over the title-race horizon, but Ethan Nwaneri looks one for the future. Mikel Arteta may send out a youthful team for this dead rubber at the Emirates but the teenager looks certain to gain more invaluable experience and is 23/10 with Unibet and BetMGM to score at any time. • Are Leeds the Arsenal of the Championship? Their five-point lead at the top of the table has disappeared following a draw at home to West Brom and defeat at Portsmouth and they must bounce back against Millwall, who knocked them out of the FA Cup, to soothe fears of blowing promotion for a second straight season. They can have Elland Road rocking with a comfortable victory by more than one goal against the Bermondsey boys at 19/20 with William Hill and stick them in a treble with Pompey to beat Plymouth and Hull to take maximum points at home to Oxford. 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