Supreme favourite Jonbon faces tough test in Kennel Gate at Ascot on Friday

Jonbon will face the toughest test of his career to date so far on his second hurdles start when he clashes against fellow top-class novices I Like To Move It and Knappers Hill in the Howden Kennel Gate Novices' Hurdle (2.20) at Ascot on Friday.

A quality field of five has been declared for the 1m7½f Grade 2, headlined by the Nicky Henderson-trained Jonbon, who made an impressive debut over hurdles when an easy six-length winner at Newbury last month.

That performance saw the brother to multiple Grade 1 winner Douvan – a £570,000 purchase at the sales last year – assume favouritism for the Supreme Novices' Hurdle and he will bid to enhance his lofty reputation with a first Graded success.

2.20 Ascot: Kennel Gate Novices' Hurdle card and betting

The five-year-old, who will be ridden once again by Aidan Coleman, faces a stern assignment with a pair of Grade 2 winners in opposition, led by the Nigel Twiston-Davies-trained I Like To Move It.

The Anne-Marie and Jamie Sheppard-owned four-year-old is unbeaten in three hurdle starts and has been earmarked for this race by his trainer since landing the Supreme Trial at Cheltenham's November meeting last time.

I Like To Move It: impressive in all of his starts over hurdles so farCredit: Edward Whitaker

Knappers Hill, winner of a Grade 2 bumper at Aintree's Grand National meeting last season, took his unbeaten record to five when outclassing his rivals at Wincanton at the beginning of last month and bids to give trainer Paul Nicholls a third win in the race since 2011.

Irish raider Colonel Mustard, who finished second in the Champion novice hurdle at the Punchestown festival in April, and classy mare Elle Est Belle complete the field, with the last-named attempting to give Dan and Harry Skelton successive wins in the race after they struck with My Drogo last year.

Five will also contest the other Grade 2 on the card, the Howden Noel Novices' Chase (2.55), in which Pic D'Orhy will attempt to improve on last year's fourth in the race.

The six-year-old was an unlucky faller when clear in a Newbury Grade 2 last time and his rivals include Grade 2-winning hurdler Faivoir and recent Exeter scorer Gladiateur Allen.

Kennel Gate Novices' Hurdle final field

I Like To Move ItSam Twiston-Davies
Colonel MustardConor Orr
JonbonAidan Coleman
Knappers HillHarry Cobden
Elle Est BelleHarry Skelton

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