Grade 1 treble for JP McManus as 'true champion' Jonbon proves his stamina in Melling Chase

What a comfort to the locals: there are still some things you can rely on in Liverpool, no matter how tough the test.

Serie A side Atalanta proved too hot to handle at Anfield on Thursday, shocking Jurgen Klopp's team and handing them a first home defeat in more than a year, leaving the manager with "nothing really positive to say".

But Jonbon left his gaffer, Nicky Henderson, with a huge smile after maintaining his unbeaten record on Merseyside in face of his stiffest challenge here.

He had the run of the race when seeing off El Fabiolo in a novice hurdle at the Grand National meeting in 2022 and was a 2-11 shot when returning to land a novice chase last year, but he faced a challenge in his bid to complete a Grade 1 hat-trick this time.

The 12-time winner was stepped up to two-and-a-half miles for the first time, in a field containing three top-level winners at the trip. His wellbeing needed to be proved, having been forced out of Cheltenham by the health issue that caused Nicky Henderson to withdraw most of his festival runners.

The last time he had raced, Jonbon was beaten at 1-4, making an almighty mistake four out in the rearranged Clarence House Chase and unable to reel in Elixir De Nutz.

Jonbon clears the last under Nico de BoinvilleCredit: John Grossick

His jumping was faultless at Aintree. Travelling strongly from the off, behind a strong pace making this a real test of stamina, his staying power was given a proper examination as he battled through the closing stages with Conflated and Protektorat – both Grade 1 winners at three miles or more.

Yet he never shirked the issue, nor looked like coming off second-best, staying on stoutly to win by a length and a quarter.

"I was delighted with that," said jockey Nico de Boinville. "He's shown what a true champion he is. There was an end-to-end gallop, everyone turned up who needed to and it was a true championship race.

"I always thought he might relish that trip. He had to fight in the end and he was very strong in the finish. They were proper horses – there was no hiding place out there.

"I thought he jumped great. He travelled really well throughout the race, then he finished it well against other good horses."

Henderson, who had hoped his spring of discontent was about to turn glorious when Sir Gino won here on Thursday, was just as delighted.

"He's a bit special," the trainer said. "He's been at the top of his game for a few years now and he's never missed a beat. We can enjoy this one. 

Nico de Boinville after riding Jonbon to win the Melling Chase at AintreeCredit: Alan Crowhurst

"I don't know why but everybody loves him. He's been a really good fellow all the way through. He got into a lovely rhythm. I've never seen him jump better. He dug very deep – he had to – he was very brave. You saw him at his best. He's a flagship horse, he's been there a long time now – go back to his battle with El Fabiolo here two years ago. He's been a star all the way through. We love him, I hope he loves us!"

The locals are fiercely loyal — there are probably plenty who still feel Liverpool can overturn Atalanta in the second leg in Italy — and Jonbon went off a well-backed 11-10 favourite as he completed a treble for owner JP McManus here.

But heaven help punters presented with ante-post quotes for the Champion Chase, Ryanair and King George after this success.

"I think the two-and-a half-miles is probably ideal," Henderson said. "I tried to get Nico to say he'll stay three but he was reluctant to say that at the moment. We can think about those things through the summer."

Racing Post Rating verdict: New trip unlocks career-best for Jonbon

Successful in novice company over both hurdles and fences on two previous visits to this meeting, Jonbon (172+) maintained his unbeaten Aintree record with a gutsy success in the Grade 1 My Pension Expert Melling Chase.

Let down by his jumping when surprisingly beaten in the rescheduled Clarence House at Cheltenham in January, he made only a couple of minor errors on his first attempt at Friday's longer trip and, in bettering his previous best Racing Post Rating by just a pound, ran out a slightly above-average winner of the race.

The suspicion is that he still has more to offer over this trip and, while the King George may prove a step too far stamina-wise, this race and the Ryanair look obvious targets for next season.

Jonbon drives ahead of ConflatedCredit: John Grossick

Conflated (170), runner-up in the Bowl at this meeting in 2022, responded well to the fitting of first-time cheekpieces, racing enthusiastically at the head of affairs and fighting back well once headed. He is judged to have come right back to his best and reversed Ryanair placings with Protektorat (170). 

The Dan Skelton-trained Cheltenham Festival winner wasn't quite as fluent as his rivals up the straight, but looks to have run right up to his best. 

Ryanair runner-up Envoi Allen (154) faded to finish a well-beaten fourth, recording a RPR nearly a stone shy of his Cheltenham mark.

Last ten winners

2024 Jonbon 172
2023 Pic D'Orhy 166
2022 Fakir D'Oudairies 170
2021 Fakir D'Oudairies 170
2019 Min 178
2018 Politologue 173
2017 Fox Norton 174
2016 God's Own 167
2015 Don Cossack 181
2014 Boston Bob 163

Ten-year-average RPR 171

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