Odds-On favourite Jeong Bon won the Melling Chase on the second day of the Grand National Meeting at Aintree.
The 9-year-old, a favorite of 4-6, was initially part of Front 3 before jockey Nicode Boinville settled him behind.
He took over the second Circuit and won a third and a quarter length from Protektorat before being pushed out to De Boinville.
It’s a compensation for Jeong Bon, who was Champion Chase’s odds-on favorite at the Cheltenham Festival last month and finished second after a shaking mistake.
“There was really [an awful lot riding on that]”Deboinville told ITV.
“You’d have said it was a tough week, but all the credit to the staff, especially the governor. [trainer Nicky Henderson], [owner] JP McManus and his team.
“They have kept our faith – we had to pick ourselves up after yesterday. [with Constitution Hill] Thankfully, I have a really nice horse to ride like John Bon here. He’s an absolute superstar.
“He was a very different horse from the one I rode in Cheltenham, and he really enjoyed it today.
“Race and all sports just have to roll with a punch, and when you’re on the floor, you have to pick up yourself again.
This is a step up on the trip to the 2M 3F 200Y, and Jeong Bon’s second victory in his 10th top-level Grade 1, continuing his 100% success rate in the race away from Cheltenham.
Five-time Melling Chase winner Henderson told ITV:
“He was great, he jumped very well. Nico and he know each other very well – they trust each other.
“yesterday [with Constitution Hill] It wasn’t an easy day for us. We all feel that, and I know Nico does the same. We have the problem of having to sort it out and come back and give the horses that ride. That’s a great guy. ”
Matata was third, with Willie Mullins trained El Fabiolo falling in the second Circuit.
