BON FIRES!

Jon back to best as Henderson hails 'brave' De Boinville

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NICKY HENDERSON gave "great man" Nico de Boinville his unequivocal backing after Jonbon resumed normal service with a successful title defence in the My Pension Expert Melling Chase.

De Boinville was the target for criticism on social media after Constitution Hill, a faller in the Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham last month, crashed out at the penultimate flight of Thursday's Aintree Hurdle.

A jumping error had also proved costly for Jonbon when he finished second as the 5-6 hotpot for Cheltenham's Queen Mother Champion Chase.

But the JP McManus-owned nine-year-old took his Aintree record to 4-4 with an all-the-way success from Protektorat.