Grand National Festival results: Jonbon earns emotional win as day marred by fatalities

A much-needed outsider has won for the bookmakers, with El Jefe coming from the clouds to get his head in front at 40/1. He was tailed off coming onto the home straight but dug in willingly for jockey Ben Smith.

Go Dante deserves a mention, he was backed into favourite before the off but forfeited 20 lengths at the start and managed to finish within five lengths of the finish. A true ‘what if’ story.

After taking a heavy fall at the last, Kyntara has now returned to his feet – and he has received one of the biggest cheers of the day from the Aintree crowd. What a relief.

Dancing City has cruised to victory in the Sefton, despite finding very little off the bridle. The Willie Mullins-trained gelding travelled beautifully into contention before picking off The Jukebox Man and galloping through the line.

With Readin Tommy Wrong a NR, The Jukebox Man – owned by Harry Redknapp – is a strong 2/1 favourite to win the Sefton Novices’ Hurdle. Here is how the Bet365 market looks…

The Jukebox Man – 2/1

Shanagh Bob – 10/3

Croke Park – 5/1

Dancing City – 5/1

Cherie D’am – 15/2

Kyntara – 12/1

Ballybentragh – 66/1

Pinot Rouge – 80/1

What a hard-fought victory that is for Arizona Cardinal in an unbelievable race. Just as it looked like James Du Berlais looked to have the race wrapped up, Ciaran Gethings has managed to spark a second wind out of Arizona Cardinal to get there on the line.

The Topham Handicap Chase is up next, here’s how the Bet365 market looks…

Shakem Up’arry – 5/1

Life In The Park – 5/1

Bill Baxter – 7/1

James Du Berlais – 15/2

Kandoo Kid – 10/1

Frero Bancou – 12/1

Your Darling – 14/1

Aime Desjy – 18/1

Arizona Cardinal – 18/1

Fantastic Lady – 20/1

Grandads Cottage – 20/1

Classic Getaway – 25/1

Empire Steel – 25/1

Ciel De Neige – 25/1

Flegmatik – 28/1

Celebre D’Allen – 33/1

Shantreusse – 33/1

The Edgar Wallace – 33/1

Killer Kane – 33/1

Richmond Lake – 50/1

Embittered – 50/1

Quel Destin – 66/1

Good Boy Bobby – 66/1

Francky Du Berlais – 80/1

After an tough Cheltenham Festival, Nicky Henderson couldn’t contain his emotions when Jonbon got his head in front in the Melling Chase…

Nicky Henderson is back! Jonbon is back! The eight-year-old has cruised to victory in the Melling Chase under a confident ride from Nico de Boinville. He was forced to dig in to get by Conflated but he never looked for catching once he hit the front. A cracking day for punters so far.

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The support has come for Jonbon over the past few hours, with Nicky Henderson’s stable star now an evens favourite to get the better of Protektorat and Envoi Allen. Here’s how the Bet365 market looks…

Jonbon – 1/1

Protektorat – 4/1

Pic D’Orhy 5/1

Envoi Allen – 13/2

Conflated – 18/1

Easy Game – 25/1

Minella Drama – 100/1

Watch Mystical Power battle to victory over Firefox and secure another win for owner JP McManus.

Mystical Power confirms the form of the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle to get the better of Firefox – and make it another victory for favourite backers… The five-year-old appeared to idle in front but had plenty in the tank to fend off the challengers late on.

It's the Top Novices' Hurdle up next at Aintree after a delay.

Mystical Power is the favourite, but what other odds can you get on the 2.55pm with bet365?

Mystical Power 11/10

Firefox 9/4

Mistergif 7/1

Lump Sum 10/1

Personal Ambition 20/1

Lookaway 22/1

Tragic news coming from Aintree.

Lucinda Russell's Giovinco has died after sustaining a fatal injury in the opening race.

Our condolences go out to all the horse's connections.

Another favourite! Kateira stays on superbly to land the William Hill Handicap Hurdle. The mare travelled smoothly through the race before kicking clear after the last, with Nicky Henderson’s Jango Baie staying on impressively to secure second.

The favourites are at it again! Inothewayurthinkin has stayed on stoutly to bolt up in the Mildmay Novices’ Chase. The six-year-old made several jumping errors but picked up well under pressure for jockey Mark Walsh, with Iroko snatching second.

As we edge closer to the off, let’s take a look at the market for the opening race of today’s action. Inothewayurthinkin heads the Bet365 market following his effortless win in the Kim Muir at Cheltenham, though the likes of Chianti Classico and Iroko both arrive in good form too…

Inothewayurthinkin – 11/8

Chianti Classico – 5/1

Iroko – 5/1

Heart Wood – 11/2

Giovinco – 9/1

Broadway Boy – 11/1

There wasn’t too much rain overnight in Aintree, meaning that we have a change in the going.

The chase and hurdle courses is now soft, after being soft, heavy in places.

The Grand National course is soft, heavy in places, compared to yesterday’s report of heavy, soft in places.

Thousands have started to make their way through the entrance of Aintree Racecourse over the past hour, and all eyes are now on the opener.

On what could be a tricky day of punting, take a look at what The Scout has tipped on day two…

Willie Mullins’ Readin Tommy Wrong has been declared a non-runner for the Sefton Hurdle as he was found lame this morning.

Full list of NRs as it stands:

14.20 – West To The Bridge, Kamsinas, Santos Blue

14.55 – Golden Ace, Dysart Enos

16.05 – Lounge Lizard

16.40 – Readin Tommy Wrong

The money has come for Jonbon this morning in the Melling Chase this morning, with punters growing in confidence that his yard’s poor patch has now concluded.

However, Rachael Blackmore has talked up Envoi Allen’s chances in the race following his second-place finish in the Ryanair at Cheltenham.

She told Betfair:” Envoi Allen came out of Cheltenham really well, he seems to be in great order.

“He ran a brilliant race again in the Ryanair Chase at Cheltenham, we were as happy as you could have been, in finishing second. Heavy ground wouldn't be his preference, but the Melling Chase is run over a slightly shorter trip than the Ryanair Chase, and Aintree's finish obviously isn't as stiff as Cheltenham's.”

Golden Ace and Dysart Enos are both out of the Top Novices’ Hurdle today.

Cheltenham Festival winner Golden Ace is said to have a bruised foot, prompting trainer Jeremy Scott to withdraw his stable star from the field.

Dysart Enos has been pulled out due to going.

Racing will begin at 1.45pm today with the incredibly competitive Mildmay Novices’ Chase. Here’s the full schedule for day two…

13:45 - Mildmay Novices' Chase

14:20 - William Hill Handicap Hurdle

14:55 - Top Novices' Hurdle

15:30 - Melling Chase

16:05 - Topham Handicap Chase

16:40 - Sefton Novices' Hurdle

17:15 - Alder Hey Handicap Hurdle

Good morning and welcome to Express Sport's live blog for day two of the Randox Grand National Festival at Aintree. Make sure to stay tuned as we keep you up to date with tips and updates ahead of today's racing.