Strong Field Line Up For Melling Chase

The Willie Mullins, Rich Ricci collaboration Champagne Fever is the favourite to secure the Grade One Melling Chase on Ladies Day at Aintree, he 3/1 (bet365, Betvictor) against nine high quality contenders. Champagne Fever dramatically missed Cheltenham this year after being bitten by one of his travelling-mates on their way to the course. This Gloucestershire absence should see him fresher than those of his rivals who did compete at the Festival and should stand the eight-year-old in good stead for a good run tomorrow.

The former two-time Grade One bumper winner and two-time Grade One hurdles victor will be looking to grab his first Grade One of his chasing career. That`s not to say he lacks the class to come good at Aintree, he has served his apprenticeship by earning himself a pair of Grade Two victories, the latest one at this distance at Gowran Park.

Mullins` charge is a stalwart of this trip though he does share form with plenty of his main competition as he took them on in the 3m Grade One King George on Boxing Day. Al Ferof got the better of him by five lengths on this occasion, grabbing third to Champagne Fever`s fourth. Cue Card (7/1 - Numerous) was nearly three lengths back in fifth with Johns Spirit (18/1 - bet365) another three-and-a-half away in sixth. To reiterate though, things could turn out to be a whole lot different over this preferred distance.

The Ruby Walsh ridden mount took on another of the leading contenders, Don Cossack, at Thurles in Ireland over this 20f trip but fell at the last when in with every chance. There shouldn`t be much between them tomorrow.

Don Cossack, who ran out the 44 length winner in this Grade Two as a result of Champagne Fever`s fall, is the 9/2 (bet365, betfair, Betvictor) second-favourite to triumph in the Melling Chase.

Consistency is the middle name of Gordon Elliott`s star charge, the horse picking up a quartet of victories at graded level before failing to do the business in the Ryanair at the Festival when the 5/2 favourite. That race was claimed by Alan King`s promising seven-year-old Uxizandre with Don Cossack finishing eight lengths behind. He did however beat Melling Chase rivals Johns Spirit, Balder Succes (7/1 - Numerous) and Wishful Thinking (28/1 - bet365).

Whilst this form shouldn`t be completely forgotten about, unlike Champagne Fever the mount of AP McCoy is already a Grade One winner after his success in the John Durkan Memorial Punchestown Chase in December. What`s more he does have Aintree experience after having finished second behind Holywell in last year`s Mildmay Novices` Chase. All this should counter the fact that he may have had a little bit of an off-day under the bright lights of Cheltenham.

Paul Nicholls` Al Ferof was another horse to miss the Festival, the grey making his return here following surgery on an entrapped epiglottis. The big question then is how the horse will return to the track following this long absence, as he should have the class to feature strongly, having picked up a litany of graded races following his initial Grade One success as a novice chaser.

Apart from his health concerns, neither the trip nor the conditions should be a problem - in fact they should be perfect - and Al Ferof is available at the best price of 6/1 at all of bet365, Betvictor, paddy Power and Stan James.

Completing the field are Gary Moore`s Celebration Chase winner Sire De Grugy (15/2 - bet365, Betvictor, betway, Stan James), Nicky Richards` Queen Mother finisher Simply Ned (22/1 - Betbright) and the Grand Annual placed Croco Bay for Ben Case (66/1 - Bet365, betway, Stan James).

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09/04/2015     © Frixo 2024