Aidan Coleman racing against time to get back on impressive Tingle Creek-bound Jonbon

JONBON’S regular partner Aidan Coleman is back riding out this week praying he might be fit enough to partner Sunday’s impressive Cheltenham winner Jonbon in his next start.

Partnered by Nico de Boinville, Jonbon bolted up in the in the Grade 2 Shloer Chase.

PAJonbon bolted up at Cheltenham on Sunday under Nico de Boinville[/caption]

He now heads to Sandown for the Grade 1 Tingle Creek on December 9 looking a right Queen Mother Champion Chase contender.

Coleman is already working overtime to get fit after suffering an horrific knee injury which left him with shattered bone and his knee facing the wrong way.

He told me: “Jonbon was great today at Cheltenham and looked impressive to watch.

“I don’t know for sure if I will make the Tingle Creek, but I hope so. I’m riding out this week so I’m on track to be back the week before which I would think I need to be to ride Jonbon.”

I’ve monitored Coleman’s recuperation on Instagram via his stories and I can honestly say he’s gone the extra mile to try and return to the saddle as soon as possible. Fair play to the guy.

We are bang in the jumps season now so forgive me – but I have to give a huge Monday Yeeehaaa for class act and Flat rider James Doyle after his Listed success at Lingfield on Saturday.

‘The Doyler’ landed the Churchill Stakes on Blue Point for Charlie Appleby and Godolphin, showing he’s still very much in the Godolphin mix despite now being the Wathnan Racing number one.

It was a polished performance from Doyle, as he showed his strength and skill in the finish to deny Tyrrhenian Sea.

Back in the day, Doyle was scrubbing around Lingfield trying to find a winner on the likes of Baylini for his mum Jacqueline.

Indeed, he could have given up the game before Cityscape came along and changed his life.

Now, though, he’s been the main man for most of the Middle East’s big players.

It’s a quite extraordinary CV that means that Doyle has been head-hunted by the late Saudi leading owner Prince Khalid Abdullah, Sheikh Mohammed from Dubai and now Qatar’s Wathnan Racing.

It’s a story that’s worth emphasising, as Doyle has always not only been a class rider but a top bloke. Let’s wish him well in his new job.

It’s clear Godolphin will still use him when they can, though. In fact, all those who have used Doyle still use him. Says it all.

At Cheltenham on Saturday Paul Nicholls showed just why he was champion when Stage Star landed the Paddy Power Gold Cup.

The Ditcheat maestro did what Martin Pipe managed to do so many times in the past – get a horse fit and ready first time. He also had my fancy Il Rodoto back in third.

PAStage Star and Harry Cobden produced a remarkable recovery in the Paddy Power Gold Cup at Cheltenham[/caption]

If you had asked Nicholls, he would have told you before the race Stage Star was the one of his pair. I know this because he told me. He was spot on.

Training a horse is one thing, lining one up for a big day is another. Nicholls is a right proper champion.

Stage Star was ridden by Harry Cobden, and I’ve written much about him over the last couple of weeks. Despite an error at the last it was a polished performance from a man in right good form.

Stage Star kept on well, and for some there must be a chance the word ‘Gold Cup’ will be mentioned. However, you would think he’s much more of a Ryanair type at this moment in time.

Elsewhere on the card Chantry House was a fine third in the three-mile handicap hurdle off a mark of 147.

He’s still got plenty more to do to become a proper Stayers’ Hurdle contender if staying over the smaller obstacles, but he does have back class and he travelled strongly suggesting he would come on plenty for the outing. It will be interesting to see what he does next.

Those bookmakers offering a price go from 33-1 to 50-1 which is not total insanity.

 At Navan on Saturday one of the most talented jumpers in training dotted up in a beginners chase in the shape of the Willie Mullins-trained Facile Vega.

The former Cheltenham bumper winner and Supreme runner-up trotted up from Inthepocket, who is no mug for Henry de Bromhead and was two places behind Facile Vega at the Festival in March.

It’s hard to know what to make of the race as your guess is as good as mine how fit the main protagonists were, but there’s no doubt Facile Vega has a huge engine and he’s going to be a force this term. He jumped pretty well in the main.