Day 2 Grand National Meeting Talking Points El Fabiolo and Gaelic Warrior both featured on a list of possible rivals to face Jonbon in the Melling Chase at Aintree on Friday, as Willie Mullins dominated with three of the nine-strong entry list. The Grade 1 two-and-a-half-miler is the feature contest on the middle afternoon of the Grand National Festival at Aintree and will see Nicky Henderson's Jonbon bidding for some swift redemption, after fluffing his lines in the Queen Mother Champion Chase at the Cheltenham Festival. Irish pair Romeo Coolio (Gordon Elliott) and Salvator Mundi (Mullins) featured in the entries for the TrustATrader Top Novices' Hurdle on Merseyside. Use the talkSPORT BETwelcome offer for the Grand National meeting If have already signed up to talkSPORT BET, check out more of the best betting sites. Jonbon could face strong Irish challenge Jonbon, who fluffed his lines at Cheltenham where he finished runner-up to Marine Nationale in the Champion Chase after a shuddering jumping error mid-race, has the opportunity for swift redemption at Aintree. The Seven Barrows star had won all three starts this season before Cheltenham, including the Tingle Creek and Clarence House Chases, but he was 18 lengths adrift of the impressive Barry Connell-trained winner at Prestbury Park. In the circumstances, Nico de Boinville's partner did incredibly well to force the silver medal. Jonbon is three-from-three at Aintree, all Grade 1s at the National Festival, including last year's Melling Chase. He is poised to face a stiff challenge from Mullins as the current British and Irish champion trainer has entered Gaelic Warrior, El Fabiolo and Embassy Gardens, who are all fresh for the battle ahead having missed Cheltenham. El Fabiolo could be set for his first appearance at Aintree since 2022 when he went down by a neck to Jonbon in the Top Novices' Hurdle, though he'd have his revenge with an emphatic success in the following season's Arkle at Cheltenham. Gaelic Warrior also holds an intriguing entry in the Aintree Bowl on Thursday, ensuring all eyes will be on final declarations for that contest on Tuesday. Ryanair Chase runner-up Heart Wood for Henry de Bromhead is also in the mix for the Melling Chase. Romeo Coolio and Salvator Mundi go for Top honours Romeo Coolio and Salvator Mundi feature in the entries for the TrustATrader Top Novices' Hurdle. They were third and seventh respectively as Kopek Des Bordes won the Supreme at Cheltenham for Mullins. The Closutton powerhouse won this Grade 1 last year with Mystical Power. Fergal O'Brien's Tripoli Flyer, a late defection from the Supreme and currently 3-4 over hurdles after winning the Grade 2 Dovecote at Kempton, is also amongst the possible contenders. The second Grade 1 over hurdles on Friday is the Sefton Novices' Hurdle over an extended three miles and Elliott has entered the likes of Jacob's Ladder, Familiar Dreams and Honesty Policy, while Mullins could send out Argento Boy and Port Joulain. Dancing City set for Mildmay test Day two begins with the Huyton Asphalt Franny Blennerhassett Memorial Mildmay Novices' Chase where Dancing City and Impaire Et Passe, both Grade 1 winners over hurdles at this meeting, are amongst the possible Mullins-trained runners, alongside Stellar Story for Elliott. Ben Pauling's Scilly Isles Novices' Chase winner Handstands heads the early betting, while Cheltenham Festival scorer Caldwell Potter is in the mix for Paul Nicholls alongside the Henderson-trained Arkle hero Jango Baie. James Du Berlais (Mullins) heads the betting for the Topham Handicap Chase while Cheltenham Gold Cup-winning trainer Gavin Cromwell could send out Tyre Kicker over the National fences.
