Jonbon made a stunning return to form at the Randox Grand National Festival, claiming his second consecutive victory in the prestigious Grade One My Pension Expert Melling Chase. The nine-year-old, trained by Nicky Henderson and owned by JP McManus, had been the favorite at 4-6, and lived up to expectations with an impressive performance. After experiencing a disappointing run at the Cheltenham Festival just weeks earlier, Jonbon bounced back in style, putting behind the challenges he faced in March and securing an effortless win.
Jonbon took control of the race early, setting a swift pace that would ultimately leave his closest competitor, Protektorat, trailing by a margin of three and a quarter lengths. El Fabiolo, another top contender, was unable to challenge Jonbon after falling at the 11th fence, further solidifying the dominant performance from the favorite. This victory marks Jonbon’s fourth consecutive win at the Grand National Festival, having triumphed in previous years in both the Top Novices’ Hurdle and the Maghull Novices’ Hurdle.
Trainer Nicky Henderson was full of praise for both Jonbon and his jockey, Nico de Boinville, following the victory. Henderson described the ride as “brave,” noting that the horse had shown remarkable agility in navigating the racecourse at high speeds. He highlighted how Jonbon’s ability to adapt to different jumping styles—whether a bit long or short at his fences—played a significant role in the success. Henderson also reflected on Jonbon’s troubled run at Cheltenham, where an unfortunate incident at the start set the horse back, but emphasized that the Melling Chase demonstrated Jonbon’s true capabilities.
Nico de Boinville, reflecting on the race, admitted that the pressure was on after a challenging week, but was thankful for the support from the stable and owner JP McManus. He noted that Jonbon was in much better form than at Cheltenham, relishing the race conditions and showing his true prowess over fences. De Boinville was quick to credit Jonbon’s resilience, calling him an “absolute superstar” and expressing gratitude for the chance to ride such a talented horse.
Protektorat, who finished as the runner-up, was trained by Dan Skelton, who praised his horse’s effort despite the defeat. Skelton acknowledged that Jonbon had once again proven himself to be a class above, but expressed pride in Protektorat’s performance, emphasizing the horse’s consistent quality and determination. The trainer also expressed his excitement for the next season, as Protektorat is poised to continue his campaign with plenty of promise.
As for Henderson’s plans, he mentioned the possibility of a future appearance at Sandown and confirmed that top stable star Constitution Hill had returned home in good health after his Cheltenham run. Henderson and his team are eyeing a potential trip to Punchestown, but only time will tell if the champion will line up for that event.
The Randox Grand National Festival continues to provide thrilling moments, and Jonbon’s victory in the Melling Chase is sure to be one of the most memorable highlights of the event.
