Jonbon clash could come before Cheltenham as Willie Mullins has Ascot option for El Fabiolo after successful return

The highly anticipated rematch between El Fabiolo and Jonbon could come sooner than expected as Willie Mullins floated the idea of his Arkle winner heading to Ascot for the Clarence House in the aftermath of his Grade 2 Hilly Way victory at Cork.

Mullins took that route to the Champion Chase with Energumene last season and has his eye again on a race which is one of two possible next steps for Jonbon, beaten by El Fabiolo in the Arkle and the winner of Saturday's Tingle Creek.

Mullins was landing the Hilly Way for the fifth year in a row after using it as a successful stepping stone to Champion Chase glory for Energumene – who is out for the season owing to injury – in 2021 and 2022. 

El Fabiolo went off at prohibitive odds of 1-5 but didn't give his supporters much to worry about in the 2m½f contest, travelling enthusiastically and jumping with precision in the hands of Paul Townend. The Spanish Moon gelding had a proclivity to throw himself at the odd fence last season but this was a polished, refined display, although bigger tests await.

He displayed plenty of vigour in the early stages, racing enthusiastically over the first couple of fences but soon settled in third behind the front-running Maskada. Townend began to make his move after five out and his mount ranged up to the outside of Henry de Bromhead's mare. Once he glided past her, the Gordon Elliott-trained Fil Dor emerged as the only realistic threat but El Fabiolo shrugged him off with a particularly agile leap at the penultimate fence. 

A slight peck on landing at the last when getting in quite tight was the only real blot on a straightforward four-and-three-quarter-length victory.

Mullins said: "I was a little worried as I had three or four runners already today and none of them shone so I was thinking it could be one of those days, but he got the job done. He was workmanlike and very free with Paul over the first three fences.

"Paul was trying to not let his head go as he didn't want him running too free. He relaxed at the second fence down the back straight and was able to do things properly. If he needed a race, Fil Dor was there to test him and he did."

El Fabiolo: jumped well on way to Cork win

El Fabiolo proved himself the best two-mile novice chaser around last season, powering five and a half lengths clear of Jonbon in the Arkle at Cheltenham, and both sets of connections have an eye on the Grade 1 Clarence House Chase at Ascot on January 20.

Henderson cited the Clarence House and the Grade 2 Game Spirit Chase at Newbury as possible targets for Jonbon after his similarly uncomplicated success in the Tingle Creek on Saturday, while Mullins is keen to go across the water – as he did with Energumene last season.

"Jonbon did his job nicely, we got the job done today and we all have to get to Cheltenham," said Mullins. "I don't know where we'll go now – we'll look at Christmas but he'll probably go to Ascot."

Paddy Power elected not to cut the winner for the Champion Chase and he remains the 10-11 favourite to give Mullins a third victory on the bounce in the race on March 13. Jonbon is 5-2 with the same firm. 

El Fabiolo remains a top-priced evens for the Champion Chase with Coral, who offer 9-4 about Jonbon.

Betway Queen Mother Champion Chase (Cheltenham, March 13)

Paddy Power: 10-11 El Fabiolo, 5-2 Jonbon, 14 Captain Guinness, 20 Edwardstone, 33 bar.

Read these next:

Fabulous Fabiolo: the sensational season that stamped this unbeaten chaser as the latest Willie Mullins superstar 

'Attacker' Jonbon has JP McManus excited for El Fabiolo rematch after battling to fifth Grade 1 victory 

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