Review of the action from Friday's meeting at Aintree

Gallant Politologue edges Melling thriller

Politologue got the better of hot favourite Min in a thrilling climax to the JLT Melling Chase at Aintree.

The two-and-a-half-mile Grade One was billed as a match between the Willie Mullins-trained Min, who chased home Altior in the Queen Mother Champion Chase at Cheltenham, and fellow Irish challenger Balko Des Flos, who was an impressive winner of the Ryanair Chase at Prestbury Park for Henry de Bromhead.

However, the Paul Nicholls-trained 11-1 shot Politologue, who was only fourth in the Champion Chase, did not read the script and claimed a narrow victory under Sam Twiston-Davies in a race in which owner John Hales lost the hugely popular grey One Man 20 years ago.

Twiston-Davies said: "It was a good shout by Paul to put the hood back on, it helped him relax and he got in a great rhythm.

"Paul has done all the hard work and I just pushed at the end.

"When Min came up all I was hoping was that I winged the last to have a chance again, when something is travelling like that you are always concerned but one thing with him is that he tries very hard."

He added: "I needed that one, it's been a trying time, Paul is trying to rebuild looking for new stars, I've been injured, I got a few decisions wrong, missed a few winners and gave some horses some not so great rides, but these ones make it worthwhile and help me to believe in myself again."

Jacob dream week continues with Terrefort

Terrefort stamped his class on the Betway Mildmay Novices' Chase at Aintree.

Nicky Henderson's grey progressed from winning a Huntingdon handicap to claiming Grade One glory in the Scilly Isles Novices' Chase at Sandown in February, and was last seen filling the runner-up spot in the JLT Novices' Chase at Cheltenham.

With that form having been well advertised since, Terrefort was the 3-1 favourite stepped up to three miles on Merseyside.

Sporting Life columnist Daryl Jacob, fresh from a Grade One double at the meeting on Thursday, cut a confident figure in the saddle throughout and appeared keen to play his cards late.

Ms Parfois looked likely to prevail when striking on in the straight, but Jacob had not gone for everything on Terrefort and when he did, his mount responded generously to grab the lead and gallop three and three-quarter lengths clear after the final fence.

Elegant Escape was best of the rest in third.

Repeat Topham win for Ultragold

Ultragold claimed back-to-back victories in the Randox Health Topham Chase at Aintree.

Colin Tizzard's charge caused a 50-1 upset when scoring 12 months ago and filled the runner-up spot over the famous fences in the Grand Sefton Chase in December.

He failed to get competitive on his two most recent appearances at Cheltenham, but the 14-1 chance appeared reinvigorated by the return to the Grand National course, jumping boldly in front throughout in the hands of Harry Cobden.

The well-fancied Theatre Territory loomed up ominously before the home turn and Irish raider Shanahan's Turn threw down a strong challenge after the final fence, but Ultragold comfortably saw them both off, passing the post with three and three-quarter lengths in hand.

A jubilant Cobden said: "I can't really believe he's done it again, but you can't ask for a better partner over these fences than this fella. He's eyes up every fence and he rides me.

"The ground didn't feel too soft on this lad, to be honest. He's such a lovely horse, he does everything you ask and he's a pleasure to ride."

Emotions run high as Lalor strikes

Lalor claimed an emotional success in the Betway Top Novices' Hurdle at Aintree.

The racing world was left shocked in January after it was announced trainer Richard Woollacott, who was based in South Molton in Devon, had died, aged 40.

Lalor provided Woollacott with his first big-race success when winning the Grade Two bumper at this meeting a year ago and he was a 14-1 shot to strike Grade One gold on his return to Merseyside, running in the name of the trainer's wife, Kayley.

With champion jockey Richard Johnson in the saddle, Lalor travelled strongly and moved to the front after jumping the third flight from home. Bedrock briefly threatened to cause a huge upset, but Woollacott's charge kept up the gallop to prevail by two and a half lengths. Vision Des Flos beat a weary Bedrock to the runner-up spot.

Johnson told ITV Racing: "This is hard to put into words. It was very sad what happened and this horse last year was his first big winner. To come and do it again in his memory, for his family, is fantastic. It was a big shock what happened. Hopefully this horse will keep Richard's name in lights for a long time to come."

He added: "I hadn't sat on him since last year and tongue in cheek I said it would be nice if we got the same sort of performance and I'd ride him the same way. He's a lovely big horse who stays really well and it's all gone to plan, he really put his head down after the last. It's a special day for the family and I'm sure Richard is smiling as well."

Jet powers to Aintree success

Jester Jet dug deep to claim top honours in the Alder Hey Children's Charity Handicap Hurdle at Aintree.

Tom Lacey's mare lined up on Merseyside off the back of a good effort to finish second in a Listed contest at Warwick in February and was a 20-1 shot for this fiercely competitive handicap in the hands of Robert Dunne. The eight-year-old raced in midfield for much of the way, but began to make inroads on the leaders rounding the home turn and challenged for the lead jumping the second flight from the finish.

Runner-up Eaton Hill and the Alan King-trained pair of 13-2 favourite Who Dares Wins and Wilde Blue Yonder all came home strongly, but Jester Jet did enough to hold them at bay.

Dunne said: "She's improved no end since Tom got her. I was confident she'd run a big race, even though she was a big price. She ran a nice race the last day and had improved again. We went a good pace which helped and I committed going to the second last because I knew she'd stay."

Lacey said: "That was a super performance, I was a bit nervous bringing her here when the ground got really soft. She was in the three-miler, too, but on this ground we went for the shorter trip. She's such a strong traveller and everything worked out. The owner bred her as well so it's a special day."

Santini sinks Sefton rivals

Nicky Henderson bagged his fifth Grade One success in the space of two days as Santini emerged victorious in the Doom Bar Sefton Novices' Hurdle at Aintree.

The Seven Barrows handler enjoyed a top-level treble on Thursday with We Have A Dream, Might Bite and L'Ami Serge all striking gold on Merseyside, while Terrefort claimed victory in the Mildmay Novices' Chase earlier on Friday's card.

Henderson looked to have a strong hand in this three-mile contest, with 6-4 favourite Santini joined by stablemates Ok Corral, who was ahead of Santini when second in the Albert Bartlett at Cheltenham last month, and Chef Des Obeaux.

The latter was beaten before the turn for home, but Santini and Ok Corral were both in contention jumping the second-last, before Santini and Nico de Boinville forged clear near the stands' rail.

Dan Skelton's prolific mare Roksana emerged as his biggest threat, throwing down a strong challenge on the other side of the track after the final obstacle, but Santini was good value for the winning margin of a length and a half.

Irish challenger Tower Bridge finished third.

De Boinville said: "He's some horse. At Cheltenham we got shuffled back a bit and we were keen to make amends today by riding him nice and prominently on a flat track like this.

"Coming up the straight I thought I'd just try to get some better ground coming up the near side and it helped him a bit.

"He battled on well and he's going to be an out-and-out stayer."

Henderson said: "He's a baby of a horse and he's a chaser for next year.

"I nearly put him away after Cheltenham and he's been really fresh and well at home. It was a great performance."

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