TRES BON

Henderson's horse goes 19 to the dozen to clinch this thriller

- BY DAVID YATES

JONBON once more showed his mettle through the final rounds of the fight to land a 12th career Grade 1 triumph in the Ascot Chase.

The betting suggested that Nicky Henderson's stable stalwart, who pulled victory from the fire to defend his crown in the two-mile Clarence House Chase at the royal racecourse four weeks earlier, faced a straightforward task with an additional five furlongs expected to play to his strengths.

But among the 4-9 hotpot's five foes was Pic D'Orhy, the Ascot specialist who had proved impossible to pass in the 2024 and 2025 runnings - and the veteran pair served up a an absolute thriller.

In front from the starting tapes, Harry Cobden and the 11-year-old Pic D'Orhy still held a one-length advantage turning for home as Nico de Boinville called upon Jonbon to find more.

The 10-year-old responded with his trademark grit, battling his way to shade the lead at the final fence, where a ragged jump failed to check his momentum.