Jingko Blue

Trained by Nicky Henderson at Upper Lambourn — a yard that has sent out 85 winners already this season — Jingko Blue began his career at Newbury in December 2023 and has been climbing steadily ever since. The big moment came at Windsor in January 2025, when he won a Class 1 race, one of the top races in Britain. At that level, horses win roughly 1 in 5 times on average; Jingko Blue has won 1 from 5 attempts at Class 1, which is exactly average on paper, but that Windsor victory and his most recent win suggest the curve is pointing upward.

That most recent win came at Cheltenham on 11 March 2026 — just four weeks ago — and it was not a straightforward affair. Jockey James Bowen ended up making the running, which was not exactly the plan, but it worked brilliantly. Henderson was candid afterwards: Jingko Blue is not the easiest horse to manage. When everything clicks, he is very talented; when it does not, things can unravel. The horse has had his jumping go wrong at critical moments before, including a serious blunder at Ascot that ended his previous season early. It then emerged he had been suffering from kissing spines — a painful back condition — and he underwent surgery. The improvement since has been visible.

One detail that any punter or casual fan should note: Jingko Blue loves slightly wet ground, winning 3 of 4 races in those conditions — a 75% win rate that is frankly extraordinary. On fast, dry ground, the picture looks very different. Ground conditions are not a footnote with this horse; they are the story. His recent form reads 1-2-7 going back before his current run of two wins from three, and that seventh place almost certainly tells you something about conditions or jumping on the day rather than ability.

Henderson has talked about the Reynoldstown Chase at Ascot as a stepping stone toward Cheltenham Festival ambitions. With a horse this talented — and this recently vindicated — those plans feel entirely serious.