Cheltenham Festival: El Fabiolo far too good for Jonbon to win Arkle Novices’ Chase for Willie Mullins | Racing News

El Fabiolo proved too strong for old rival Jonbon to win a fifth Sporting Life Arkle Novices’ Chase in nine years for trainer Willie Mullins.

Only a neck had separated the pair in an epic Grade One duel at Aintree last April and the rematch had been highly-anticipated between the leading two-mile novice chasers from either side of the Irish Sea.

Jonbon had got the better of El Fabiolo in their last meeting but it was Mullins’ star who was the pick of punters, sent off 11/10 favourite after landing the Irish Arkle last month.

Stablemate Dysart Dynamo set the pace in his typically enthusiastic style under Danny Mullins and joined Jonbon and El Fabiolo in a line of three at the second-last fence.

Paul Townend, who had been beaten on favourite Facile Vega in the Supreme half an hour earlier, went on as Jonbon struggled to pick up, with Dysart Dynamo suffering a heavy fall at the last.

El Fabiolo eventually ran out a five-and-a-half length winner, with Mullins also picking up third spot through Saint Roi.