Aintree 2025: Jonbon wins Melling Chase for Nico de Boinville and Nicky Henderson
Jonbon’s probability favorite won Melling Chase on the second day of the Grand National Meeting of Aintree.
The nine-year-old boy, who was a favorite 4-6, was part of one front three initially before the jockey Nico de Boinville placed him.
He took over on the second circuit and moved away before being expelled by De Boinville to win three and a quarter of Protektorat.
It is a bit of compensation for Jonbon, who came second, after an error shivering, when the favorite of the champion at the Chase at the Cheltenham Festival last month.
“There was really (a lot of ride),” said De Boinville in Itv. “Jonbon takes us back to trouble again.
“You would have said it was a difficult week, but all the merit for the staff and in particular the governor (coach Nicky Henderson), (owner) JP Mcmanus and his team.
“They maintained trust in us – we had to take ourselves after yesterday (with Constitution Hill) and luckily I have really cute horses to ride like Jonbon here. It is an absolute superstar.
“He was a horse very different from the one I led to Cheltenham – He liked it today. You can see when he is right and he loves his jump in song.
“The races and all the sport are difficult and the place to stay and you just have to roll with fists and when you are on the floor you just have to take back. It is like that famous rocky who says” you have to get up and continue going on “and what we commit.”
It is Jonbon’s second victory in the pursuit of Melling, which is a step forward on the trip to 2m 3f 200Y.
Henderson, who won Melling Chase five times, said to Itv: “That Chase champion does not seem to work for him, it is a shame because he went wrong for him. He showed today that he loves it – a little gallop have gone but that’s what he loves most.
“He was brilliant and jumped so well. Nico and he know each other so well – they trust mutual.
“Yesterday (with Constitution Hill) it was not an easy day for any of us, we all hear it, and I also know Nico. We have problems that we have to solve and return and give a horse like that, this is a great man.”
Matata arrived third, while El Fabiolo trained at Willie Mullins fell on the second circuit.
