One of the showpiece races on day two of Aintree’s Grand National meeting is the Grade 1 Melling Chase, which is run at 3.30 on Friday afternoon and will see some top notch middle distance chasers line up. Here at GG, we preview the contest and pick out the 1-2-3 for the 2m 3f 200y contest…
Key Runners
JONBON
(Nicky Henderson)
Nicky Henderson’s Jonbon missed the Cheltenham Festival, but the multiple Grade 1 winner is back to try and land a third Aintree Grade 1 in as many seasons. The Seven Barrows star won the 2022 Top Novices’ Hurdle, where he downed El Fabiolo, while he won the Maghull Novices’ Chase last year by over 40 lengths. He fluffed his lines when beaten at long odds-on in the Clarence House Chase at Cheltenham back in January, but an awful mistake that day ruined his chances. He’s proven to be one of the leading British-trained runners in recent seasons and if he recaptures his form then is the one to beat.
PROTEKTORAT
(Dan Skelton)
Fresh from bounding to a stunning four-length victory in the Ryanair Chase at last month’s Cheltenham Festival, Protektorat is bidding for a big-race double on Friday and is another prominent figure in the betting for this event. A former winner of the Many Clouds Chase at Aintree, Dan Skelton’s star was unable to figure in the Bowl last season, but the drop back in trip appears to have brought significant improvement and he will be one of those setting the early fractions in this race.
PIC D’ORHY
(Paul Nicholls)
Impressive when beating Fakir D’Oudairies by over four lengths in this race 12 months ago, Pic D’Orhy is back to try and retain his Melling Chase crown for Paul Nicholls. The Ditcheat inmate has maintained a really high level of form this season and was last seen bounding to victory over L’Homme Presse in the Grade 1 Ascot Chase in February. Like last year he missed Cheltenham in favour of this event and is going to be another of those towards the head of affairs.
ENVOI ALLEN
(Henry De Bromhead
Winless all season, Envoi Allen has been running decent races all campaign without getting his head in front and he was last seen chasing home Protektorat in the Ryanair Chase at Cheltenham. He won the Ryanair back in 2023 to enhance his fine record at the Cheltenham Festival, but this season he has often found one too good, so he will need to improve on what he has shown for Henry De Bromhead this campaign.
The Field
Former Irish Gold Cup winner Conflated has struggled of late to deliver the goods at the highest level, but the ten-year-old is back for another crack and has to be considered a potential player, if he can find his best form, but he was over six lengths behind Protektorat in the Ryanair Chase last month. Another veteran lining up is Easy Game, who hasn’t been seen on the track since September, but was a Grade 2 winner that day, so is of interest. Minella Drama completes the seven-strong field and will be available at huge odds for what is a trappy contest.
Big Race Verdict
A fascinating renewal will see JONBON make his hotly-anticipated return to the track and having bypassed Cheltenham he should be cheery ripe for this event and he can prove to be a cut above his rivals and land a third Aintree win in as many years. Envoi Allen has been a real model of consistency this season and he can chase home Nicky Henderson’s raider, while Pic D’Orhy can complete the top three spots in what should be a crackerjack.
- Jonbon
- Envoi Allen
- Pic D’Orhy
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