Day Two of the 2025 Aintree Festival is headlined by Jonbon (8/15) who takes on a depleted field in the Melling Chase (15:30). It's a redemption mission for Jonbon after his disappointing showing at Cheltenham when a beaten favourite in the Champion Chase. After a farcical start he was always on the back-foot until a shuddering error on the final circuit ended all hope of him tasting Cheltenham Festival glory for the first time. Aintree seems to suit Jonbon much better, he's a perfect 3 from 3 at the Course which includes a win in this race last year. Trainer Nicky Henderson will be hoping he can bounce back to his best.
There are only three runners in opposition to Jonbon, one being his old foe El Fabiolo (7/2) for Willie Mullins. El Fabiolo was untouchable in his first six Chase starts, but jumping errors have become a recurring issue, as was the case when beaten by Jonbon last year at Sandown. Protektorat (11/2) and Matata (20/1) complete the field, but both have a bit to find on Official Ratings and likely need the main protagonists to misfire. That's not impossible though, as we know all too well.
The British also have a strong hand in the Mildmay Novices' Chase (13:45) with Handstands (15/8) and Caldwell Potter (7/2) currently heading the market. The form of Handstand's Grade 1 win in the Scilly Isles Novices' Chase was given a nice boost by Jango Baie at Cheltenham and he should have no problem stepping up in trip to 3 miles. Caldwell Potter was electric when powering to victory in the Novices' Handicap Chase at the festival. Positive tactics seemed to work the oracle with him. He was rewarded with an Official Rating of 155 after that display, leaving him with just 2lbs to find with Handstands.