'Superstar' Jonbon wins Melling Chase at Aintree
Odds-on favourite Jonbon won the Melling Chase on day two of the Grand National meeting at Aintree. The nine-year-old, who was 4-6 favourite, was part of a front three initially before jockey Nico de Boinville settled him in behind.He took over on the second circuit and went clear before being pushed out by De Boinville to win by three and a quarter lengths from Protektorat.It is some compensation for Jonbon, who finished second, after a shuddering mistake, when odds-on favourite for the Champion Chase at Cheltenham Festival last month. "There was really [an awful lot riding on that]," De Boinville told ITV. "Jonbon gets us out of trouble again."You would have said it's been a tough week but all the credit to the staff and particularly the governor [trainer Nicky Henderson], [owner] JP McManus and his team. "They've kept the faith in us - we had to pick ourselves up after yesterday [with Constitution Hill] and thankfully I've got really nice horses to ride like Jonbon here. He is an absolute superstar."He was a very different horse to the one I rode at Cheltenham - he really enjoyed it out there today. You can see when he's right and on song he loves his jumping."Racing and all sport is tough and place to be in and you've just got to roll with the punches and when you're on the floor you've just got to pick yourself up again. It's like that famous Rocky saying 'you've got to get up and keep moving forward' and what's we try and do."It is Jonbon's second win in the Melling Chase, which is a step up in trip to 2m 3f 200y. Matata finished third, while the Willie Mullins-trained El Fabiolo fell on the second circuit.
Willie Mullins claimed his fifth Grade One win of the meeting when Paul Townend steered 7-2 shot Salvator Mundi to victory in the TrustATrader Top Novices' Hurdle. Townend told ITV that they had an "incredible team" after he secured his fourth Grade One win across the opening two days of the meeting. Another smart front-running ride from Harry Cobden saw Caldwell Potter back up his Cheltenham Festival win in the Grade One Huyton Asphalt Franny Blennerhassett Memorial Mildmay Novices' Chase.Cobden sent the Paul Nicholls-trained 11-4 favourite to the front from the off and led all the way through the 3m 210y race.Victory in the race was worth £71,504 and sees the seven-year-old recoup more of his record-breaking 740,000 euros fee. Similar tactics from Jonjo O'Neill Jr saw 14-1 shot Wellington Arch claim the William Hill Handicap Hurdle. The three-day meeting concludes on Saturday, with the 177th running of the Grand National the feature race at 16:00 BST.
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