Henry De Bromhead's Heart Wood was the one to benefit from the withdrawal of Fact To File with an easy win in the Ryanair Chase.
Last year's winner and favourite Fact To File was taken out of the Ryanair less than an hour before the race on account of the ground meaning Jonbon was sent off the 2/1 favourite.
He couldn't get a first Festival win, though, as last year's runner-up went one better under Darragh O'Keeffe to land De Bromhead his first win of the week at 9/2.
Always travelling smoothly as Jonbon, Matata and Master Chewy set the pace, Heart Wood cruised into the lead on the turn for home and stormed clear by 10 lengths.
Jonbon filled the runner-up spot, maintaining his record of never having been out of the first two in his career.
O’Keeffe said: “I think we always said we were going to ride him more prominently this year over the trip. I jumped out good and smart. I thought we were going a nice even gallop and Jonbon and JPR One were in front of me, but I was happy as I had a bit of space.
“He jumped brilliantly the whole way. From the fifth last onwards he was in the zone and he is a strong stayer at this trip. We got eyes on the second last as to where we would kick him on. He has been as good as ever this season and it was a good performance.
“The John Durkan was a funny race but he was really good at Tramore in calmer waters. He was impressive that day and seemed to like that ground.
“I got into a great rhythm, and he is a brilliant jumper, long or short he is very good. He is still only good and he is coming into his own now so hopefully he can keep going the right way.”
Watch the Ryanair Chase in full
Unlimited Replays
of all UK and Irish races with our Race Replays
Discover Sporting Life Plus Benefits
Nicky Henderson said of Jonbon: “He maintains his record of finishing in the first two, and I would love him to go to bed with that. There was a moment at the bottom of the hill there where you thought this isn’t the day at all, but he never gives up. He finished his race very strongly.
“We have toyed with the idea of three miles and watching him there you would say he would enjoy it. Nico just said he felt he was a little bit flat. I thought he jumped brilliantly.
“He did have a couple of hard races at Ascot, and in hard work ground that might have just flattened him out. Fair play to the winner who was second in it last year. He is a good horse and probably a fresher horse too.
“Aintree was the original plan and not to come here but wait for that. It is easy to say I wish we had done that, but he has run great. He is certainly not disgraced at all.
“He was a test to start with when he was young. It was hard work getting around to him, but he has mellowed so much as he has got older. Living with him is easy and JP adores him and I respect that.
“It would be that we look at three miles at Aintree if we go there, but he has had those hard races. He is great.”
Jonbon's rider Nico De Boinville said: “He has run his heart out. He has tried his hardest and jumped well in the main. I couldn’t have asked for more. I had a nice spin around and he has run well.”
Timeform View from the Track: David Cleary
Despite a card featuring three Grade 1s, it seemed likely beforehand that the day's standout performance would come in the Ryanair Chase. After all, the outstanding 2025 winner Fact To File was in the line-up. However, it became clear as the afternoon went on that the good ground would lead to his withdrawal. With Fact To File withdrawn around 45 minutes before the race, the Ryanair was thrown much more open, Jonbon, Banbridge and Impaire Et Passe all vying to take advantage.
The race still provided the best performance of the day, though from an unexpected source – last year's Ryanair second Heart Wood, no match for Fact To File, had generally come up short when taking on the very best; however, with Fact To File absent and the very best in the Ryanair field not firing, Heart Wood stepped up with a career-best.
Heart Wood was never far away and moved up smoothly to the leader JPR One after four out. He edged ahead in the straight and drew right away on the run-in as JPR One folded, his effort telling. Jonbon, sent off favourite, stuck to his task for second, maintaining his record of never finishing out of the first two, though he wasn't at his best, a couple of scruffy jumps at the top of the hill not helping his cause. The 2024 King George winner Banbridge was also rather flat, while Impaire Et Passe ran no race at all.