Who do you fancy for the Champion Chase after the weekend wins of Jonbon and Energumene?

Jonbon and Energumene were in winning form over the weekend and the pair look set to clash in the Champion Chase at Cheltenham in March. If you had to choose, who would you favour?

• 'It's all to play for' - Energumene lays down Champion Chase marker as he makes winning return in Hilly Way 

• Fabulous 'freak' Jonbon joins the greats as he completes back-to-back wins in Tingle Creek

Champion Chase latest betting

Queen Mother Champion Chase (Cheltenham, March 12)

Paddy Power: 5-2 Jonbon, 7-2 Gaelic Warrior, 5 Energumene, 8 El Fabiolo, 16 Found A Fifty, 20 Il Etait Temps, 25 Marine Nationale, 33 Banbridge, Dinoblue, 40 Blood Destiny, Boothill, Captain Guinness, Quilixios, 50 bar

'It feels like this could be Jonbon's year'

By Matt Rennie, reporter

It's always great to see old stars like Energumene come back from long layoffs, but it's clear that Jonbon is miles ahead of him in terms of Queen Mother Champion Chase credentials.

It was a great shame to see Banbridge unseat Richie Deegan at the final fence as he would've been a huge guide to see how much ability Energumene retained. I thought it was a workmanlike win at best.

Gaelic Warrior is the horse Jonbon will have to beat and although his jumping wasn't perfect in the Tingle Creek, I've been so impressed with how professional he is at the races now. It feels as though this could be his year.

'He looks a force to be reckoned with this season'

By Liam Headd, Lambourn correspondent

It was great to see Energumene return after a lengthy layoff, but I’m siding with Jonbon on the basis of what we’ve seen this weekend.

Nico de Boinville and Jonbon clear the last to win the Betfair Tingle Creek Chase at SandownCredit: Alan Crowhurst

Nicky Henderson’s eight-year-old recorded a joint career-best effort on Racing Post Ratings in the Tingle Creek at Sandown and he appears to be better than ever. It wasn’t his strongest performance in the Shloer last month, but he will have needed that run and he looks a force to be reckoned with this season.

Energumene's jumping was slick, but his victory was only sealed when Banbridge unseated at the final fence. We don’t know how close he would have got to Energumene if Richie Deegan had stayed on. At this stage it’s Jonbon who has a strong hold of the two-mile chase division.   

'I'll side with Energumene at the prices'

By Catherine Macrae, reporter

Jonbon is a worthy favourite after his demolition job in the Tingle Creek but Energumene is certainly not one to be underestimated. 

He was entitled to be rusty after a 593-day layoff but he still got the job done, and his record in the Champion Chase means he no doubt will go off shorter than his current 6-1 odds. 

Energumene and Paul Townend en route to winning the Hilly Way ChaseCredit: Patrick McCann

The price looks attractive at this stage considering Jonbon has not won at the Cheltenham Festival and we've yet to see Gaelic Warrior return. Should Il Etait Temps, who beat Gaelic Warrior at Punchestown last time out, stick to the two-mile division, he would be a fantastic each-way bet at 25-1. 

I'll side with the more-experienced Energumene at the prices for now, but his possible return to the Clarence House will be informative.

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