The feature race on Day 2 is the JLT Melling Chase which sees 9 runners in opposition in this Grade 1 chase over 2 miles 4 furlongs. Previous winners include the likes of Sprinter Sacre, Master Minded and Voy Por Ustedes with 4 of the last 10 favourites prevailing. The longest priced winner in that time was last year’s victor, Gods Own at 10/1.
Favourites
There’s a 3-way battle for favouritism with Fox Norton, Gods Own and Sub Lieutenant all in with a chance of starting at the head of the market. Fox Norton finished 2nd in the Champion Chase a few weeks back when failing narrowly to get up after a strong run at the business end. On that evidence, he looks like he’ll appreciate the longer distance here but his best form has been at Cheltenham and he did have a hard race. On paper, he looks the one to beat.
Gods Own won this last year but only managed to finish 5th in the Champion Chase this term. I think he’s likely to reverse the form with Fox Norton as he made an awful mistake when challenging 2 out at Cheltenham and we know he’s suited by the 2½ miles here. He’ll surely be thereabouts over the last but is a little short in the betting at around 7/2.
Sub Lieutenant comes here having run at Cheltenham but this one raced in the Ryanair and was 2nd to Un De Sceaux. I think this horse needs further and this easier track combined with the shorter trip doesn’t look the most obvious route. It is likely he’ll be tapped for toe when the pace quickens and isn’t one I could back.
The Rest
Uxizandre is very interesting. Barry Geraghty takes the ride for Alan King and this horse won at this meeting 3 years ago before landing the Ryanair in 2015. He was then off the track for 2 years before returning with a promising run behind Un De Sceaux at Cheltenham in January. He didn’t show his true form in the Ryanair but he didn’t appreciate being taken on by the winner that day and let’s not forget it was only his 2nd run back from a long absence. It’s interesting his trainer persists with him in top class races and today could be the day he makes amends and returns to former glory. He will like the ground and the track, and gets on well with Geraghty so 8/1 looks a little on the generous side.
I can’t really be having any of the others. They all seem to fall below this class and, after today’s disaster with Rashaan, I’ll be ignoring the unexposed, potential improver types and, instead, sticking with the tried and trusted.
[the_ad_group id=”3636″]
JLT Melling Chase – Tips
Back Uxizandre (e/w) for a 1/10 stake at 9.00 Bet365 BOG (¼ odds 1-3)
Back it here:
