Thursday was a day to forget for trainer Nicky Henderson and jockey Nico de Boinville.

Their stable star fell once more in the big race at Aintree, and they were also out of luck with Jango Baie, who started favourite for his race but could only manage third.

Roll on Friday, and the Seven Barrows team will have high hopes for Jonbon who is out to defend an unbeaten record (three wins in three years) at this meeting.

Jonbon headed to the Cheltenham Festival win his dominance of the two-mile chasing division richly deserved, but saw Champion Chase dreams blown apart when a mid-race error allowed Marine Nationale to steal a march and secure top honours.

Having bravely regrouped for second, he now stretches out in trip once again in search of Merseyside compensation, with connections unwavering in their admiration for a horse who has won 17 of his 21 career starts and nine times at the highest level.

“He was great in this race last year and it’s just unfortunate things didn’t work out for him at Cheltenham in the Champion Chase, but that’s the game we’re in,” said Frank Berry, racing manager for owner JP McManus.

“Nicky is very happy and he goes there in good form. He’s a smashing horse and it’s hard to get hold of too many like him. He’s been a marvellous horse and we’ve had some great days with him and we hope for another one on Friday, we’re hoping for the best.”

Another horse who has been a great servant for all associated is Protektorat, who will sport the colours of former Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson in the back yard of rivals Liverpool on Friday afternoon.

Dan Skelton’s 10-year-old could not repeat his 2024 Ryanair Chase heroics when only fourth at this year’s Festival, but is reported to have bounced out of that recent outing and now seeks to better last year’s two-and-a-half-length third to Jonbon.

“He’s come out of Cheltenham really well and he just does his thing, he’s not a horse who makes life difficult, he just gets on with it,” said Skelton.

“The older he’s got and the more racing he’s had, the more he seems to enjoy himself.

“I don’t think the race suited him at Cheltenham, he just couldn’t quite get into a smooth rhythm like he did the year before. But he never runs a bad race or lets us down and we’re excited to have another go.”

Only four will go to post for the Grade One event with owners Simon Munir and Isaac Souede possessing half of the field through Willie Mullins’ El Fabiolo and Nigel Twiston-Davies’ Matata.

It will be the fourth time El Fabiolo and Jonbon have crossed swords, with the duo fighting out a thrilling finish to the Top Novices’ Hurdle at this meeting in their younger days, although they meet over further than two miles this time.

“It will be a big ask to beat Jonbon who obviously won that race well last year and seemed to relish that trip,” said Anthony Bromley, racing manager to the owners.

“But both our two didn’t go Cheltenham and they are fresh and well and I think the new trip for Matata will suit him.

“It’s similar for El Fabiolo, who I’m sure is crying out for that trip. It was almost too heavy for him when he was second at Navan last time.

“We’re hoping for good runs, but we’re certainly not underestimating Protektorat as well as Jonbon and it’s a classy race. There is nice prize-money and with only four in it, it’s great to have two vying for a slice of it.”

Caldwell Potter versus Handstands

Paul Nicholls is looking forward to seeing how Cheltenham Festival hero Caldwell Potter copes with the step up in distance when he heads to Aintree for the Huyton Asphalt Franny Blennerhassett Memorial Mildmay Novices’ Chase.

The dashing seven-year-old was a sight to behold when donning the colours of the late John Hales for a poignant success in the Jack Richards Novices’ Handicap Chase, a triumph which was also the Ditcheat handler’s 50th at the Festival.

“It will be interesting to see if he gets three miles, because if he does it opens up a lot more doors,” said Nicholls, whose former winners of this race include Big Buck’s and Silviniaco Conti.

“If he doesn’t we’ll just have to drop back in trip next season, but I’m excited to see how he gets on and we’re looking forward to it.

“I don’t know what plan we will have over three miles, but he seems in good shape and I just hope it’s not too close after Cheltenham as there’s no way of knowing until you run them. Hopefully he will run well.”

A Grade 1 winner over hurdles in Ireland, Caldwell Potter was subject to a lofty €740,000 transfer fee in early 2024.

That figure brought a weight of expectation ahead of his novice chasing career, but his Cheltenham success rewarded his connections’ investment and faith, with the 14-time champion trainer confident about the likeable grey’s future prospects.

Nicholls added: “Because he’s had that price tag around his neck, he’s sort of been open to criticism, but the guys who own him love this sport and like investing and they’ve got a nice horse now.

“He hasn’t run bad at all and he’s run some nice races and come good at Cheltenham, and everyone enjoys a Cheltenham winner and he will be a nice horse for the future.”

In opposition to Caldwell Potter is Handstands and after Cheltenham proved a difficult watch for Ben Pauling following his decision to skip the Festival, he is hoping it is a decision that pays dividends on Friday afternoon.

“I can’t wait to see Handstands back on the track, it was always the plan to miss Cheltenham,” explained Pauling.

“It was a tough watch, the Brown Advisory, as The Jukebox Man was always heading there and got his injury and Handstands I believe would have easily been good enough to win it – we have two exceptionally nice novices.”

Handstands has won three in a row since falling on his chasing debut and having proven his stamina over three miles at Sandown in December, he showed his class by dropping back in distance to scoop Grade 1 honours at the Esher track in February, beating subsequent Arkle hero Jango Baie.

“We will always enjoy watching Handstands and on this ground I think it was a fairly obvious decision to go up to three miles again rather than stick at two and a half,” explained Pauling.

“The form of his last race over three is okay, he won it fairly easily and he’s one of those horses who just seems to do whatever is asked of him really.

“He’s had a great year and it would crown it magnificently if he could get his head in front again.”

A four-strong Irish contingent features in a field of eight, with Willie Mullins’ Dancing City a winner at this meeting last season and Gordon Elliott saddling Brown Advisory runner-up Stellar Story.

Elliott said: “He seems to be in good form and look, we would prefer more of a (stamina) test but three miles should suit him and we’re hoping for a good run.”

Will Romeo Coolio be Top?

Fergal O’Brien is keeping his fingers crossed Tripoli Flyer’s late Cheltenham Festival defection can prove a blessing in disguise ahead of the TrustATrader Top Novices’ Hurdle.

Runner-up to unbeaten stablemate Horaces Pearl in the Grade Two bumper at last year’s Grand National meeting, the six-year-old has since won three of his four starts over hurdles, including an impressive Grade 2 success in the Dovecote at Kempton in February.

O’Brien readied his charge for a tilt at the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle at Prestbury Park last month, only for him to be ruled out of the traditional Festival curtain-raiser on the morning of the race after he was found to have a high temperature.

The Ravenswell Farm handler is hoping compensation awaits on Merseyside, saying: “Tripoli Flyer is in great form, Johnny (Burke) is very happy with him and Beth, who looks after him and rides him, is very happy with him.

“I’d have no hesitation over his level of ability and he obviously ran well at Aintree last year, so that ticks another box.

“We’re looking forward to it and fingers crossed he goes there with a good chance.”

The hot favourite is Gordon Elliott’s Romeo Coolio, whose third-placed finish behind Kopek Des Bordes and William Munny in the Supreme sets an exacting standard.

“It was a very good run at Cheltenham the last day and if he runs to that level of form, he shouldn’t be too far away,” said Elliott.

“We’re happy with him since Cheltenham and he’s in good form. He’ll go out in trip in time, but for now we’re happy at two miles.”

Willie Mullins saddles the Supreme fifth and 10th in Salvator Mundi and Karbau as he bids for back-to-back victories following Mystical Power’s success 12 months ago.

The only mare in the field is Ben Pauling’s Diva Luna, who impressed in winning at this meeting 12 months ago and ran her best race over hurdles so far when third in the Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle at Cheltenham three weeks ago.

Pauling said: “I was delighted with the way she ran at Cheltenham. I thought it was a big ask for her to come back to that form off the back of a much lesser performance at Sandown and a tricky season, so I was genuinely delighted with what she showed.

“She’s come out of the race in very, very good order and looks a million dollars. She won at this meeting last year and if she doesn’t bounce from Cheltenham, I think she’s going to be bang there as if she doesn’t bounce she could improve.

“She’s not a million miles off on ratings. Romeo Coolio is there, but apart from him there’s Tripoli Flyer and I’d like to think we’ll be very competitive against him with our allowance.

“It’s where I hoped she’d be at the start of the season, she’s an exceptional jumper and I honestly think she’ll run a big race. I can’t wait really.”