Image © Healy Racing
When Jonbon dug deep once again to land a 12th Grade 1 in last Saturday’s Betfair Ascot Chase, it was another reminder of just how rare a talent he is.
For Ellmarie Holden, watching from the Red Mills day with her parents, it was a moment that still feels almost surreal.
“It’s amazing. You’d only dream of having one like him,” she said.
Holden and her parents have travelled to watch Jonbon run on several occasions, while long-time Coolmeen team member John Fitzpatrick continues to follow his progress closely; as do many connected to the yard.
Long before the green-and-gold silks of J.P. McManus, Jonbon’s journey began in much quieter surroundings at Dromahane.
Back in November 2020, the four-year-old son of Walk In The Park lined up in a four-year-old maiden for the Holdens. Ridden by Derek O’Connor, he scored in taking fashion, stretching 15 lengths clear of Lavorante. It was a visually striking performance - one that immediately marked him down as something out of the ordinary.
Even from the start, Holden sensed he was different.
“When we got him, Ray Cody broke him and he just found everything so easy. He was quirky in his own little way, but once you understood him, he was very straightforward.”
Within days of his Dromahane success, Jonbon would set a world-record price for a point-to-pointer when selling for £570,000 at the Goffs UK November Sale at Yorton Farm.
“That was the first sale they had in Yorton. It kind of got real then. Everyone wanted to see Jonbon.”
Few could have predicted quite how far he would go. Now a 12-time Grade 1 winner and second only to Kauto Star in terms of top-level chase victories in the modern era, Jonbon boasts a remarkable record of 27 runs under Rules without ever finishing outside the first two - 20 wins and seven seconds.
His latest success at Ascot, grinding out victory over Pic D’Orhy, once again showcased the resolution and stamina that have become hallmarks of his career.
There were people saying when we bought him that he’d never be as good as his brother [Douvan], and he has proved them all wrong.”
His latest success at Ascot, grinding out victory over Pic D’Orhy, once again showcased the resolution and stamina that have become hallmarks of his career.
Monday lunchtime = perfect time to rewatch %uD83D%uDCFA
— Ascot Racecourse (@Ascot) February 16, 2026
So here it is… the FULL replay from Saturday of JONBON doing what he does best %uD83D%uDC9A%uD83D%uDC9B pic.twitter.com/vOfxGzRFnX
There were people saying when we bought him that he’d never be as good as his brother [Douvan], and he has proved them all wrong.”
As Cheltenham looms once again, Jonbon holds entries in the Champion Chase and the Ryanair Chase, but Holden is content simply to see him enjoy his moment.
“It’d be lovely to see him do it at Cheltenham. But if he doesn’t, he doesn’t. He doesn’t need to prove anything anymore.”
Jonbon is not the only elite performer to have passed through Coolmeen. Sir Gerhard won his sole point-to-point at Boulta before being sold for £400,000 and later capturing multiple Grade 1 honours, including the Tattersalls Ireland Novice Hurdle following his Cheltenham Champion Bumper success.
Feronily is another graduate to have reached the top. Having won his maiden point-to-point at Rathcannon, the son of Getaway progressed under Rules to land the Grade 1 Punchestown Novice Chase, further strengthening Holden’s record of producing horses capable of competing at the highest level.
With that record, expectation inevitably follows.
“It’s always a bit of pressure. You want to trust your judgement and you want them to win for the next trainer and owner. You want to sell them good horses.”
That philosophy underpins the Coolmeen operation in Ballyhale. Numbers are compact, with around 15 currently in the yard, but the focus is firmly on quality and attention to detail.
“You’d rather have smaller numbers and be able to concentrate on them more.”
Last month at Cragmore, Moltezuma provided another reminder that the conveyor belt remains in motion. The grey son of Jukebox Jury made a winning debut in the five-year-old geldings’ maiden under Derek O’Connor, rallying on the run-in to score by half a length.
“We were always mad about him. He’s a lovely horse. He wasn’t your typical Jukebox Jury. He’s got a great temperament.”
Moltezuma has since been sold privately and joined Dan Skelton’s yard in Britain, and Holden will now watch his progress with the same interest she affords all her graduates.
Coolmeen have several nice four-year-olds to emerge later in the spring, including a promising Tirwanako and a lovely Poet’s Word among them.
As Jonbon prepares for another possible Cheltenham bid, Holden will watch once more with pride.
“You’d only dream of having one like him.”
“You’d only dream of having one like him.”
