Jonbon steps up to deliver

JONBON took the step up in trip in his stride as he roared back to his best with a brave success in the My Pension Expert Melling Chase at Aintree yesterday.

Nicky Henderson’s eight-year-old has been campaigned solely at two miles so far over fences and won both the Shloer Chase and Tingle Creek in the early stages of this campaign.

However, a narrow reverse in the rearranged Clarence House was followed by missing the Champion Chase at the Cheltenham Festival as Henderson effectively shut down his operation on account of the poor stable form.

Stamina

Trying two and a half miles for the first time, Jonbon (11-10 favourite) travelled supremely in the hands of Nico de boinville, with Jack Kennedy keen to make this a stiff stamina test sending Conflated to the lead where he was closely shadowed by Pic D’orhy and Minella Drama.

Jonbon and

Protektorat were always hot on that trio’s tail and as Kennedy continued to pour on the coal aboard Conflated down towards two out, Jonbon loomed menacingly with Protektorat staying on strongly.

Nico de boinville edged the JP Mcmanusowned Jonbon to a narrow advantage jumping the last and the Seven barrows star pulled out all the stops as he kept on right to the line to hold off the game Conflated, with Protektorat back in third after a thrilling conclusion to the Grade One event.

Henderson said: “He dug very deep today didn’t he? And he had to. His jumping was very slick and it was a great ride — you saw him at his best today.

“He is a flagship horse. He’s been there a long time now, you can go back to when he was battling El Fabiolo here in a novice hurdle here two years ago - he’s been at the top for a fair old while.”