JLT Melling Chase (Grade 1)

Off time: 15:26 | Winning time: 5m 18.5s

Balko Des Flos²⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-7| J: D N Russell| T: H De Bromhead| OR: 169| D

2/1

Progressive chaser who had already taken the Galway Plate (August 2017) before recording a first ever Grade 1 success in the Ryanair Chase at the Cheltenham Festival last month, beating Un De Sceaux by 4½L. Plenty more to offer.

Form: 3-12321

Cloudy Dream²⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-7| J: B S Hughes| T: Ruth Jefferson| OR: 157| D

10/1

Strong traveller who is versatile with regards to distance but looks best over this 2m4f trip. A flat track and not overly testing conditions are ideal, but he has 12½L to make up with Balko Des Flos from the Ryanair Chase.

Form: 1-22223

Le Prezien^t²⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 11-7| J: B J Geraghty| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 157

11/1

Beaten by Yorkhill on his only previous visit to Aintree in April 2016 (2m4f hurdle), he's gone onto become a regular over the Cheltenham fences, and stormed clear latest to take the competitive Grand Annual Handicap (2m soft). Trip/Grade concerns.

Form: 8P-2381

Min³⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 11-7| J: Paul Townend| T: W P Mullins| OR: 168| D

11/10

Has often played second fiddle to the quite brilliant Altior during his career and that was once more the case when beaten 7L in the Champion Chase at Cheltenham (2m soft). Highly likely to stay; is a 2m4f winner, just not at Grade 1 level.

Form: 11-1D12

Politologue^h,t1³⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 11-7| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 161| D

11/1

His Tingle Creek Chase success features prominently on a burgeoning CV, but he's another to have come unstuck meeting Altior. Finished 16L behind Min when fourth in the Champion Chase latest. Stays, but recent rapid progress has come over 2m.

Form: F-11124

Sizing Granite^t²¹

Age: 10| Weight: 11-7| J: R M Power| T: C L Tizzard| OR: 153| C| D

20/1

Impressive when taking a 2m4f handicap chase at the Punchestown Festival last spring, but this season hasn't necessarily gone to plan. Back from a break to exploit a lowly hurdles mark at Newbury latest (2m soft), but masses to prove in this grade.

Form: P51-PP1

Forecasts

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

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.