HE is a half-brother to the mighty Douvan, and cost £570,000 after winning his point-to-point for Ellmarie Holden, but until now Jonbon had been something of a talking horse.

He changed that when making all the running to beat the proven Colonel Mustard (Lorna Fowler/Conor Orr) in the Grade 2 Kennel Gate Novices’ Hurdle, with the even-money favourite challenged by a quartet of horses who had all shown fairly smart form, and all impressive winners of their most recent races.

Aidan Coleman kept it simple on Jonbon, leading at a fair pace, and increasing the pressure on his rivals from the third-last. Colonel Mustard responded best, with Conor Orr getting up on the inner on the home turn, and he rallied after a scrappy leap two out, but Jonbon was two and three-quarter lengths to the good at the post, with the same distance back to third-placed Knappers Hill.

The winner will have one more run before tackling the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle in March, according to his trainer.

Pic perfect

The Grade 2 Noel Novices’ Chase proved fairly straightforward for the Paul Nicholls-trained Pic D’Orhy (Harry Cobden), as his four rivals were let down by jumping to one degree or another.

Fourth in the contest last season, the six-year-old would have won at Newbury last month but for a crashing fall when clear, but it was his jumping which won this rather weak Grade 2, and his rider didn’t have to go for everything in the straight.

Sent off the market leader at 5/4, he had nine lengths to spare over Favoir (Dan/Harry Skelton) at the line.