RANDOX GRAND NATIONAL FESTIVAL NEWS: JONBON BACK TO HIS BEST IN GRADE ONE MY PENSION EXPERT MELLING CHASE
Friday 12th April
There was a Grade One success for owner JP McManus on Ladies Day at the 2024 Randox Grand National Festival when Jonbon (11-10 Favourite) won the Grade One My Pension Expert Melling Chase.
Having bypassed Cheltenham when his stable was under a cloud, the eight-year-old today came home a length and a quarter to the good over Conflated (12-1) in the hands of Nico de Boinville.
Winning trainer Nicky Henderson said: “Everybody loves him. He has been a really good fellow all the way through. He is an entertaining horse as he doesn’t make life terribly easy for everybody. He has settled down so much though. All the guys at home do a great a job with him. There is Robin, who looks after him, and Paddy, who rides him every day. They know each other really well. If you change the routine you can upset this fellow very easily. I think we have got the hang of him now.
“We would like to be jumping along there a bit, but they were going a good gallop the whole way. He got into a lovely rhythm, that was perfection. I’ve never seen him jump better. He travelled well. I think the two and a half miles is probably ideal. I’m trying to get Nico (de Boinville) to say that he will stay three, but he is reluctant to say that at the moment, but we can think about those things throughout the summer.
“Should we have been thinking about the Ryanair this season, I don’t know? When we did that with Shishkin and jumped him up to two and a half miles, we soon realised he wanted three miles. I’m not saying that about Jonbon at the moment. I think that was perfect to be honest around here. He was one of the special ones and it has been great. They are getting through it and are all running well.
“He is a bit special as he has been at the top of his game for a fair few years now, and he has never missed a beat. We will enjoy this one. Well done to JP and all my team.
“Who knows (if missing Cheltenham has helped today). It is something we will never know. You could possibly say it is in our favour, but you just don’t know. The other horses all went to Prestbury Park and we were sadly stuck in our box at home with all of them.
“He dug very deep, and he had to. He was very brave, and it was great riding. His jumping was very slick and you saw him at his best. I did feel confident, then didn't, then did and I couldn’t watch. He is a flagship horse as he has been there a long time now. You go back to when he had his battles with El Fabiolo two years ago here. He has been at the top of the game for a fair while. He has just been a star all the way through. We love him, and I hope he loves us. That is it for the season as it was a tough race today.”
Gordon Elliott, trainer of the runner-up Conflated, said: Gordon Elliott: “I’m absolutely delighted with the run. I’m gutted he didn’t win, but Jack (Kennedy) gave him a super ride, the horse gave it everything, he didn’t miss a beat - look, a bit like the last race, there’s no excuse, we just got beat by a better horse on the day. Both horses ran their hearts out. It’s always disappointing when you’re second, but when nothing goes wrong, you have to be happy.
“I thought it was a very hot race. I thought the Grade One race yesterday was probably easier on paper. I’d say that run was probably a career best - he’s a great horse. The winner wasn’t at Cheltenham and came here a fresh horse. I’m delighted for Nicky, he’s a great man. Just gutted I didn’t win.”
