Last year’s winner in great form ahead of his Aintree defence.
Paul Nicholls will be hoping Pic D'Orhy can make it back-to-back victories in the Grade 1 Melling Chase at Aintree on Friday.
The progressive Johnny de la Hey-owned chaser landed the prize twelve months ago and warmed up for his defence in the perfect style when coming home in isolation in the Grade 1 Ascot Chase in February.
Nicholls, who has made it no secret that this has been his season-long target, said on his Betfair blog: "I've always believed in this horse and am very proud of what he has achieved over the last two seasons.
"With a better jump at the last fence, it would have been even closer between him, and Banbridge in the Grade 2 Silviniaco Chase at Kempton and he was giving 3lbs to the narrow winner.
"That was a career-best by Pic d'Orhy who is in top form at home and beat two smart horses at Ascot last time."
Pic d'Orhy will face six rivals at the Merseyside venue on Friday, with Jonbon, who steps up to two and a half miles for the first time, strong at the head of the market for trainer Nicky Henderson.
Nicholls, who enjoyed Aintree success yesterday when Sans Bruit ran out an empathic winner under Bryony Frost, said of the opposition: "There are some classy types in opposition again in this Grade 1 Chase, but he is classy, too, and I've kept him for this race which he won 12 months ago. He worked impressively on Saturday.
Pic D'Orhy is currently a 9/2 chance with Paddy Power, with the same firm making Jonbon their 6/4 favourite for the two-and-a-half-mile Grade 1 prize.
