Walk In The Park’s Jonbon Simply Superb In Aintree Grade 1

Saturday saw Jonbon (7g Walk In The Park - Star Face, by Saint Des Saints) run out a hugely impressive winner of the Grade 1 Maghull Novices’ Chase at the Aintree Grand National Festival.

JP McManus’s £570,000 purchase gained his first Grade 1 win at last year’s meeting and Nicky Henderson’s charge went on to gain Grade 1 success over fences in December. Sent off a short-priced favourite on his return to Aintree, he was ridden prominently by Aidan Coleman and led from four out. The bay looked the likely winner approaching the final fence and needed little encouragement to score by all of 43 lengths.

“Jonbon was good today wasn't he?” Henderson said after the race. “I think he loves that slightly better ground and he jumped from fence to fence today.”

Looking to the future, Aidan Coleman commented, “I think he could still go up in trip and there’s lots of options for him. I would say he's a fan of being ridden aggressively over two miles on that ground, but given the way he relaxes and jumps, you can do anything you want with him.”

Jonbon’s enviable race record now reads 10 wins from 12 starts. Bred by Lotfi Kohli, the son of Walk Of The Park is a full-brother to another top-class horse in Douvan (Walk In The Park).