BONHOMIE!

Festival failings forgotten yet again

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JONBON and Nico de Boinville never missed a beat as the pair climbed back to number one in the My Pension Expert Melling Chase yesterday.

Restoring home pride after a day one battering from Ireland, Britain's 4-6 favourite oozed class for a perfect ten in racing's top tier.

Just 24 hours earlier De Boinville had hauled himself off the canvas when Constitution Hill crashed out while trying to restore his reputation.

But there was no four faults for Jonbon, who like his highly-rated stablemate had blundered away his Cheltenham Festival chance.

The 4-6 favourite led from the eighth fence and found another gear to beat Protektorat by three-and-a-quarter lengths, retaining his 2024 title in style.