Voy Por Ustedes triumphs in Melling Chase

Voy Por Ustedes retained his John Smith’s Melling Chase crown at Aintree after a thrilling duel with Schindlers Hunt.

Nacarat jumped for fun at the head of affairs and looked to have the race won two out, with Voy Por Ustedes and Schindlers Hunt under heavy pressure.

But the fast pace set by Tony McCoy took his toll as Robert Thornton galvanised Alan King’s eight-year-old on the run-in.

The 11-8 favourite held on grimly to score by a head from the Dessie Hughes-trained Schindlers Hunt.

McCoy lit up Nacarat (4-1) from an early stage and he put in some fantastic leaps from the front.

Schindlers Hunt (16-1) looked a real threat two out, though, until he belted the fence – virtually stopping him in his tracks.

Thornton gave it everything on Voy Por Ustedes and a better leap at the last just about sealed the race.

It was heartache for the connections of Schindlers Hunt, who was also a valiant third in the Ryanair Chase at Cheltenham.

Voy Por Ustedes’ victory also came as a welcome tonic for owner Sir Robert Ogden, who cruelly lost Exotic Dancer on Thursday.