Jonbon steps up to two and a half miles for the first time in Friday’s ultra-competitive My Pension Expert Melling Chase at Aintree.
Nicky Henderson’s charge has won multiple Grade 1s over the minimum trip but connections have been minded to try him over further for some time.
Having missed the Cheltenham Festival due to concerns over the form of his string, Henderson will be hoping for a better display than the one which saw him beaten at 1/4 in the rearranged Clarence House Chase when he made several jumping errors.
Taking him on are this year’s Ryanair winner Protekorat and the 2022 winner of that race Envoi Allen.
Protekorat had spent a large part of the previous two seasons running over three miles but excelled dropped in trip last month, while Envoi Allen put up a game defence of his title in second.
Paul Nicholls won the race last year with Pic D’Orhy and the nine-year-old is back again searching for a valuable win for his handler in the race to be champion trainer.
Gordon Elliott’s Conflated also runs in this in preference to the Grand National, with Easy Game and Minella Drama completing the field.
Two smart mares, Golden Ace and Dysart Enos, will meet again in the TrustATrader Top Novices’ Hurdle.
Fergal O’Brien’s Dysart Enos came out on top when they met in a Grade Two bumper at this meeting 12 months ago but she was denied her chance to go for glory at Cheltenham due to a minor setback.
In her absence Jeremy Scott’s Golden Ace won the Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle, beating some well-touted Irish contenders.
Standing in their way is Willie Mullins’ Supreme runner-up Mystical Power, the third Firefox and Ben Pauling’s promising Personal Ambition in a field of eight.
There are six in the Huyton Asphalt Franny Blennerhassett Memorial Mildmay Novices’ Chase and none can be confidently ruled out.
Cheltenham winner Inothewayurthinkin and Kim Bailey’s Chianti Classico will have plenty of supporters.
Henry de Bromhead sends over Heart Wood, Broadway Boy gets the chance to atone for missing Cheltenham, with Giovinco and Iroko not out of it either.
The Mullins-trained Dancing City and Readin Tommy Wrong, Shanagh Bob, Croke Park and The Jukebox Man, agonisingly reeled in by Stellar Story in the Albert Bartlett, are among nine in the Cavani Sartorial Menswear Sefton Novices’ Hurdle.
Current Going
Mildmay/Hurdle courses: Soft, Heavy in places
Grand National course: Heavy, Soft in places
1:45pm Huyton Asphalt Franny Blennerhassett Memorial Mildmay Novices' Chase (Grade 1) 3m 210y
1 Broadway Boy (IRE) p 6 11 7 Mr D. M. Proos Nigel Twiston-Davies Sam Twiston-Davies
2 Chianti Classico (IRE) ts 7 11 7 Sir Francis Brooke & R A Pilkington Kim Bailey David Bass
3 Giovinco (IRE) 7 11 7 Thunder Holdings Ltd & The Young Ones Lucinda Russell Stephen Mulqueen
4 Heart Wood (FR) 6 11 7 Robcour Henry de Bromhead Ireland Rachael Blackmore
5 Inothewayurthinkin (IRE) 6 11 7 Mr John P. McManus Gavin Cromwell Ireland Mark Walsh
6 Iroko (FR) ts 6 11 7 Mr John P. McManus Oliver Greenall & Josh Guerriero Jonjo O'Neill Jr.
2:20pm William Hill Handicap Hurdle (Premier Handicap) 2m 4f
1 Springwell Bay ts 7 12 0 Mrs Gay Smith Jonjo O'Neill Jonjo O'Neill Jr.
2 Icare Allen (FR) h 6 11 11 Mr John P. McManus Jonjo O'Neill Richie McLernon
3 Sonigino (FR) ts 7 11 10 Sir A Ferguson G Mason J Hales & L Hales Paul Nicholls Freddie Gingell (5)
4 Might I (IRE) ts 8 11 9 Brian & Sandy Lambert Harry Fry Jonathan Burke
5 Jango Baie (FR) 5 11 8 Countrywide Park Homes Ltd Nicky Henderson Nico de Boinville
6 Kateira 7 11 5 Little Lodge Farm & Dan Skelton Dan Skelton Harry Skelton
7 Santos Blue ts 7 11 5 Mr N. Sutton Dan Skelton Mr Ben Sutton (7)
8 What's Up Darling (IRE) 7 11 5 Gigginstown House Stud Gordon Elliott Ireland Jack Kennedy
9 Guard Your Dreams 8 11 4 Graham and Alison Jelley Nigel Twiston-Davies Sam Twiston-Davies
10 Uncle Bert 7 11 4 James & Jean Potter Ltd Nigel Twiston-Davies James Turner (7)
11 Boombawn (IRE) 7 11 4 Bullen-Smith & Faulks Dan Skelton Kielan Woods
12 Spirit d'Aunou (FR) 5 11 4 Heart of the South Racing 130 Gary Moore Niall Houlihan
13 Theatre Man (IRE) 8 11 2 Burkes & Syders Richard Bandey Harry Bannister
14 Playful Saint (FR) ts 9 11 2 Mr and Mrs J. D. Cotton Dan Skelton Fergus Gillard
15 Kamsinas (FR) 7 11 1 Noel Fehily Racing Syndicates Kamsinas Fergal O'Brien Paddy Brennan
16 Ocastle des Mottes (FR) h 5 11 1 Mr Simon Munir/Mr Isaac Souede W. P. Mullins Ireland P. Townend
17 Serious Operator (IRE) ts 7 11 0 The Operators Lucinda Russell Patrick Wadge (3)
18 West To The Bridge (IRE) ts 11 11 0 Mr J. Tierney Dan Skelton Tristan Durrell (3)
19 Champagne Twist (IRE) 6 11 0 The Pour Decisions Syndicate Ben Pauling Ben Jones
20 Tronador (IRE) 8 10 13 Mr M. Wasylocha Gordon Elliott Ireland Danny Gilligan (3)
21 Inthewaterside (FR) h 6 10 12 McNeill Family & G C Stevens Paul Nicholls Harry Cobden
22 Making Headway (IRE) p 6 10 11 Mr Malcolm B. Jones Oliver Greenall & Josh Guerriero Henry Brooke
2:55pm Trustatrader Top Novices' Hurdle (Grade 1) 2m 103y
1 Firefox (IRE) 6 11 7 Bective Stud Gordon Elliott Ireland Jack Kennedy
2 Lookaway (IRE) p 7 11 7 Peter Beadles Neil King Jack Quinlan
3 Lump Sum (FR) 6 11 7 Walters Plant Hire Ltd Sam Thomas Sam Twiston-Davies
4 Mistergif (FR) h 5 11 7 Mr Simon Munir/Mr Isaac Souede W. P. Mullins Ireland P. Townend
5 Mystical Power (IRE) h 5 11 7 J. P. McManus/Mrs.J Magnier/Mrs S Ricci W. P. Mullins Ireland Mark Walsh
6 Personal Ambition (IRE) 5 11 7 Mrs Lynne Maclennan Ben Pauling Kielan Woods
7 Dysart Enos (IRE) 6 11 0 The Good Stock Syndicate Fergal O'Brien Paddy Brennan
8 Golden Ace 6 11 0 Mr I. F. Gosden Jeremy Scott Lorcan Williams
3:30pm My Pension Expert Melling Chase (Grade 1) 2m 3f 200y
1 Conflated (IRE) p 10 11 10 Gigginstown House Stud Gordon Elliott Ireland Jack Kennedy
2 Easy Game (FR) 10 11 10 Mr Nick Peacock W. P. Mullins Ireland P. Townend
3 Envoi Allen (FR) ts 10 11 10 Cheveley Park Stud Henry de Bromhead Ireland Rachael Blackmore
4 Jonbon (FR) 8 11 10 Mr John P. McManus Nicky Henderson Nico de Boinville
5 Minella Drama (IRE) ts 9 11 10 Green Day Racing Donald McCain Brian Hughes
6 Pic D'orhy (FR) ts 9 11 10 Mrs Johnny de la Hey Paul Nicholls Harry Cobden
7 Protektorat (FR) ts 9 11 10 Sir A Ferguson G Mason J Hales & L Hales Dan Skelton Harry Skelton
4:05pm Randox Supports Race Against Dementia Topham Handicap Chase (Premier Handicap) (Grand National Course) 2m 5f 19y
1 Classic Getaway (IRE) 8 12 0 Cheveley Park Stud W. P. Mullins Ireland
2 James du Berlais (FR) ts 8 11 10 Mr Simon Munir/Mr Isaac Souede W. P. Mullins Ireland P. Townend
3 Shakem Up'arry (IRE) ts 10 11 8 Mr Harry Redknapp Ben Pauling Ben Jones
4 Empire Steel (IRE) 10 11 4 Alan Wight Sandy Thomson Ryan Mania
5 Fantastic Lady (FR) 9 11 3 Mr E. R. Hanbury Nicky Henderson Nico de Boinville
6 Embittered (IRE) ts 10 11 2 Gigginstown House Stud Gordon Elliott Ireland Jack Kennedy
7 Richmond Lake (IRE) 8 11 2 Hemmings Racing Donald McCain Theo Gillard
8 Flegmatik (FR) ts, p 9 11 2 Exors of the late Mr N. W. Lake Dan Skelton Harry Skelton
9 Kandoo Kid (FR) ts 8 11 1 Mr Michael Geoghegan Paul Nicholls Harry Cobden
10 Aime Desjy (FR) 9 11 0 Roaringwater Syndicate W. P. Mullins Ireland
11 Life In The Park (IRE) ts 7 10 13 Mr Barry Maloney Henry de Bromhead Ireland Rachael Blackmore
12 Quel Destin (FR) bl 9 10 11 Martin Broughton & Friends Paul Nicholls Bryony Frost
13 Celebre d'Allen (FR) p 12 10 10 Mr Allan Stennett Philip Hobbs & Johnson White Micheal Nolan
14 Your Darling (IRE) 9 10 10 Lord Vestey Ben Pauling Kielan Woods
15 Arizona Cardinal ts 8 10 10 Oakman Racing Club Stuart Edmunds Ciaran Gethings
16 Shantreusse (IRE) 8 10 9 Mr Anthony Head Henry de Bromhead Ireland Darragh O'Keeffe
17 Lounge Lizard bl 7 10 9 Arnold, Lukas, Leitao and Wrigley Henry Daly Jonathan Burke
18 The Edgar Wallace (IRE) ts 9 10 9 Mr P. J. Andrews Kim Bailey David Bass
19 Good Boy Bobby (IRE) p 11 10 8 Dash Grange Stud Nigel Twiston-Davies Sam Twiston-Davies
20 Bill Baxter (IRE) p 8 10 7 Glassex Holdings Ltd Warren Greatrex James Bowen
21 Francky du Berlais (FR) ts 11 10 7 Mr Roddy Owen Peter Bowen Robert Dunne
22 Grandads Cottage (IRE) ts 9 10 7 Mr J. Hales Olly Murphy Sean Bowen
23 Frero Banbou (FR) 9 10 4 Mr P. Davies Venetia Williams Charlie Deutsch
24 Ciel De Neige (FR) p 9 10 3 Mr John P. McManus Ben Haslam Richie McLernon
25 Killer Kane (IRE) ts 9 10 2 Mr J. P. Romans Joe Tizzard Brendan Powell
4:40pm Cavani Sartorial Menswear Sefton Novices' Hurdle (Grade 1) 3m 149y
1 Ballybentragh (IRE) 7 11 8 Mr David Maxwell Gary Moore Mr David Maxwell
2 Croke Park (IRE) 6 11 8 Gigginstown House Stud Gordon Elliott Ireland Jack Kennedy
3 Dancing City (FR) 7 11 8 Mrs J. Donnelly W. P. Mullins Ireland
4 Kyntara 8 11 8 Lady Dulverton Mel Rowley Charlie Deutsch
5 Readin Tommy Wrong (IRE) 6 11 8 Mr Simon Munir/Mr Isaac Souede W. P. Mullins Ireland P. Townend
6 Shanagh Bob (IRE) 6 11 8 Mrs J Donnelly Nicky Henderson Nico de Boinville
7 The Jukebox Man (IRE) 6 11 8 Mr Harry Redknapp Ben Pauling Kielan Woods
8 Cherie d'Am (FR) 6 11 1 Darren & Annaley Yates Dan Skelton Harry Skelton
9 Pinot Rouge (IRE) p 6 11 1 Mr S. Oliver Susan Corbett Edward Austin
5:15pm Alder Hey Handicap Hurdle (Conditional Jockeys' and Amateur Riders' Race) 2m 103y
1 Ballee (IRE) h 5 12 0 The Ballee Syndicate Philip Hobbs & Johnson White Mr Callum Pritchard (7)
2 Jungle Jack p 8 11 13 Mr T. G. Leslie Donald McCain Peter Kavanagh (3)
3 Go Dante ts, p 8 11 13 Mrs Barbara Hester Olly Murphy Dylan Johnston (5)
4 Ted Hastings (IRE) 8 11 11 Mr Aidan J. Ryan Gordon Elliott Ireland Danny Gilligan (3)
5 Brucio ts 6 11 11 Mr Simon Munir/Mr Isaac Souede S. R. B. Crawford Northern Ireland Ben Bromley (5)
6 Afadil (FR) p 5 11 9 Mr P. J. Vogt Paul Nicholls Freddie Gingell (5)
7 Densworth (IRE) ts 7 11 9 OAP Syndicate Ben Pauling Beau Morgan (5)
8 Luttrell Lad (IRE) ts, p 8 11 8 Owners for Owners Luttrell Lad Tom Lacey Cameron Iles (7)
9 Maidenstreetprince (IRE) 7 11 7 S Club Six Syndicate Charles Byrnes Ireland P. Byrnes (3)
10 Rewired 6 11 6 Opulence Thoroughbreds NH Dr Richard Newland & Jamie Insole Luke Scott (5)
11 Pikar (FR) ts 7 11 6 Estate Research PC Limited Dan Skelton Fergus Gillard
12 Your Honor (IRE) p 5 11 5 Michael O'Flynn/John F O'Flynn James A. Nash Ireland Gavin Brouder (3)
13 Karuma Grey (GER) 6 11 4 Mr A. Evans Christian Williams M. J. M. O'Sullivan
14 Zeeband (IRE) ts 7 11 1 Paul Carty &Natalie Gilligan Partnership Paul John Gilligan Ireland Jack G. Gilligan (7)
15 Party Vibes (IRE) 6 11 0 Richard Johnson Racing Party Vibes Henry Daly Alice Stevens (5)
16 Skycutter (FR) 6 11 0 The French Connection Dan Skelton Tristan Durrell (3)
17 Eagles Reign (IRE) 4 10 13 Mr T J Ward Ross O'Sullivan Ireland Shane O'Callaghan (5)
18 Lively Citizen (IRE) 9 10 12 (7lb ex) Mark E Smith and Keith M Hawes D. J. Jeffreys Harry Atkins (7)
19 El Jefe (IRE) h,ts 7 10 2 Mr A. B. Hamilton Andrew Hamilton Ben Smith (7)