15:25 Aintree

Friday 7 April 2017

All13:4014:2014:5015:2516:0516:4017:15

JLT Melling Chase (Grade 1)

Off time: 15:26 | Winning time: 4m 57.80s

1^st

Fox Norton

711-7

4/1

T: C L TizzardJ: R M Power

Mid-division, hit 5th, mistake 8th, closed going well after 4 out, went 2nd after 3 out, led 2 out, clear before last, stayed on strongly, eased close home

2^nd

Sub Lieutenant

811-7

10/3f

T: H De BromheadJ: B J Cooper

Prominent, led before 9th, headed 11th, led next, ridden and headed 2 out, no impression on winner before last, stayed on, eased close home tchd 7/2 in places

3^rd

Traffic Fluide

711-7

14/1

T: G & J MooreJ: Joshua Moore

Held up in rear, pushed along 10th, well held 3 out, went 4th and plugged on from after 2 out, took 3rd close home, no impression op 12/1

4^th

Kylemore Lough

811-7

16/1

T: Kerry LeeJ: J E Moore

Chased leaders, not fluent 3rd, went close 2nd after 4 out, 3rd and one pace after 2 out, no impression and lost 3rd close home op 12/1

5^th

God's Own

911-7

7/2

T: T R GeorgeJ: Adrian Heskin

Held up towards rear, headway into 4th 3 out, no impression and jumped right 2 out, well held 5th when jumped right last tchd 4/1

6^th

Top Gamble

911-7

10/1

T: Kerry LeeJ: D N Russell

Held up towards rear, last before 5th, closed on outside approaching 9th, outpaced after 4 out, well held from next op 14/1

7^th

Josses Hill

911-7

15/2

T: N J HendersonJ: N de Boinville

Jumped right, prominent, led 3rd, headed before 9th, driven after 4 out, weakened next op 9/1

8^th

Uxizandre

911-7

8/1

T: A KingJ: B J Geraghty

Led, tended to back off the early fences, headed 3rd, led 11th, headed next, weakened before 3 out, tailed off op 7/1

Also Ran

Royal Regatta

911-7

25/1

T: P Hobbs & J WhiteJ: R Johnson

Held up towards rear, reminders after 7th, struggling in last and more reminders after next, eased and pulled up before 9th

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Betting Breakdown

Tote Win:£4.80Pl:£1.70, £1.60, £4.00EX:£14.30Trifecta:£224.40Tricast:£166.22SF:£18.09Swingers:£2.30, £12.60, £10.80

Forecasts

Sub Lieutenant (10/3), God's Own (7/2), Fox Norton (4/1), Josses Hill (15/2), Uxizandre (8/1), Top Gamble (10/1), Traffic Fluide (14/1), Kylemore Lough (16/1), Royal Regatta (25/1)

Plenty of these saw action at Cheltenham and a few come here with a point to prove either over a different distance or type of track. Conditions and the track may well suit last year’s winner God’s Own better this time around and it won’t be a surprise if he reverses Champion Chase form with Fox Norton who tries this trip for the first time. Uxizandre shouldn’t be written off on the back of one sub-par effort and with the visor worn for his last big win better is expected here. The Kerry Lee duo Kylemore Lough and Top Gamble deserve to take their chance at this level although conditions may be a little quick. Of the bigger prices Traffic Fluide is the most interesting but SUB LIEUTENANT comes here with some progressive form under his belt and with conditions looking to suit, he is given the vote on the back of his fine second in the Ryanair.

Sub Lieutenant
God's Own
Uxizandre

Prize Money

1st: £112,260.002nd: £42,220.003rd: £21,100.004th: £10,540.005th: £5,300.006th: £2,640.007th: £1,360.008th: £720.009th: £400.0010th: £200.00