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Melling Chase preview

With the Grand National meeting underway, not all eyes are on the eponymous Saturday feature just yet. Luke Humphreys, @WorldRacingLuke, drops in to preview the Melling Chase.

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JLT Melling Chase
G1 £200,000 about 2m4f
Aintree, 1525 local 0025 AEST
ODDS LISTED WERE BEST AVAILABLE AT TIME OF WRITING

1 Fox Norton (3/1): G1 Queen Mother Champion Chase runner-up to Special Tiara over the 2m last time when he just missed. Finished 3rd to Douvan in the 2m G1 Arkle and Maghull last year. G2 Shloer winner three back and then well beaten by Altior at Newbury but beat the rest easily. Steps out to 2 and a half miles today will suit and one to beat with 3/1 top odds.

2 God’s Own (7/2): Won this last year and then won G1 Punchestown Champion Chase beating Vautour, who fell in this race, both times. Hasn’t been as good this season yet with best run a game third in G1 Tingle Creek behind Un de Sceaux and Sire de Grugy. Weakened in Champion Chase last time. Top horse at best, don’t write off.

3 Josses Hill (10/1): A horse that seems to always find a couple better than him at G1 level. Really impressive at Huntingdon in G2 Peterborough Chase three back before finishing last when well fancied in the King George and finished fifth in the G1 Ryanair. Place.

4 Kylemore Lough (10/1): G1 Ryanair Gold Cup winner last year at Fairyhouse. Went close in Ascot G2 before weakning late in the G3 Caspian Caviar Gold Cup and then last of five to finish in G2 Cotswold. Drop back in trip helps.

5 Royal Regatta (20/1): Beat Kylemore Lough narrowly in Ascot G2 in November. Game 3rd to Cue Card in G1 Ascot Chase last time. Place.

6 Sub Lieutenant (3/1): Yet to win a G1 but is very consistent. Stayed on very strongly in G1 Ryanair Chase behind Un de Sceaux last time. Will go close.

7 Top Gamble (16/1): Multiple G2 winner that savaged line in the Champion Chase. Up in trip helps and improving and worth an Each-Way flutter.

8 Traffic Fluide (20/1): Hit line well enough in Champion Chase which was an improvement on finishing last to Altior at Newbury and Cue Card in the G1 Ascot Chase. Place only.

9 Uxizandre (13/2): G1 winner of Ryanair Chase in 2015 and finished second last in this year’s renewal of that, only had one run between those two runs and that was a second to Un de Sceaux in G1 Clarence House. Under the odds.

Ratings: (1) FOX NORTON – (7) TOP GAMBLE - (6) SUB LIEUTENANT – (8) TRAFFIC FLUIDE - (4) KYLEMORE LOUGH – (5) ROYAL REGATTA – (2) GOD’S OWN – (3) JOSSES HILL – (9) UXIZANDRE

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