15:25 Aintree

Friday 13 April 2018

All13:4514:2014:5015:2516:0516:4017:15

JLT Melling Chase (Grade 1)

  • 5YO plus  |   Class 1  |   2m 3f 200y  |   Soft  |   6 Runners  |   Turf  |   Weighed In
  • Off time: 15:26  |   Winning time: 5m 18.5s
1st
Horse silk
5
11/1
T: P F NichollsJ: Sam Twiston-Davies
Tracked leader from 2nd, not fluent 10th or 12th, challenged 3 out, soon led, ridden and headed narrowly just before last, led again flat, held on gamely op 10/1
2nd
Horse silk
nk
4
711-7
11/10f
T: W P MullinsJ: P Townend
Travelled strongly, 2nd until the 2nd, raced in 3rd until challenged 3 out, jumped right 2 out, shaken up to lead narrowly before last, headed flat, stayed on, just held close home op Evens tchd 6/5 and 5/4
3rd
Horse silk
20
6
20/1
T: C L TizzardJ: R M Power
Held up in rear, mistake and rider lost left iron briefly 1st, blundered 9th, went 4th 4 out, closed when not fluent 3 out, went 3rd after 2 out, no impression on front pair and weakened before last op 25/1 tchd 33/1
4th
Horse silk
13
1
2/1
T: H De BromheadJ: D N Russell
Led, clear 2nd until 7th, jumped right 9th, joined 3 out, soon headed, not fluent 2 out, lost 3rd and weakened soon after tchd 15/8
5th
Horse silk
8
2
10/1
T: Ruth JeffersonJ: B S Hughes
Held up in 4th, closed on inside 10th, shaken up and beaten in last after 4 out, weakened before 2 out op 12/1

Also Ran

PU
Horse silk
3
11/1
T: P F NichollsJ: B J Geraghty
Not always fluent, held up in 5th, last before 9th, pulled up before 10th op 14/1

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Betting Breakdown

Tote Win:£11.70Pl:£3.60, £1.30EX:£28.70Trifecta:£261.50SF:£24.70Swingers:£3.00, £14.60, £4.60

Forecasts

Min (11/10), Balko Des Flos (2/1), Cloudy Dream (10/1), Politologue (11/1), Le Prezien (11/1), Sizing Granite (20/1)

Verdict

No Altior, so that will be music to the ears of the majority of connections. Min would be unbeaten in England and Ireland but for Altior, and that horse was once more his nemesis in the Champion Chase last month; a race in which he comfortably accounted for Politologue (fourth). He's almost certainly able to stay this longer trip, but could just be found wanting beyond 2m1f at Grade 1 level. Therefore, a clear preference is for the fast improving Ryanair Chase winner BALKO DES FLOS. He appears totally versatile in terms of underfoot conditions and should prove strongest stamina wise, even allowing for Aintree being a much lesser test than the undulating Cheltenham.
  1. Balko Des Flos
  2. Min
  3. Politologue

Previous Winners

2017
Fox Norton
Weight: 11-7  |Age: 7
4/1

Prize Money

1st: £140,325.002nd: £52,775.003rd: £26,375.004th: £13,175.005th: £6,625.006th: £3,300.007th: £1,700.008th: £900.009th: £500.0010th: £250.00

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