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15:25 Aintree

Friday 5 April 2019

All13:4514:2014:5015:2516:0516:4017:15

JLT Chase (Registered As The Melling Chase) (Grade 1)

Off time: 15:26 | Winning time: 5m 2.8s

1^st

Min

811-7

2/1f

T: W P MullinsJ: Ruby Walsh

Raced freely, made all, asserting 2 out, soon easily drew clear, impressive op 11/4

2^nd

Politologue

811-7

5/2

T: P F NichollsJ: H Cobden

Chased winner until 4th, went 2nd again 4 out, no impression from 2 out, one pace tchd 11/4

3^rd

Waiting Patiently

811-7

9/4

T: Ruth JeffersonJ: B S Hughes

Held up in 5th, not fluent 9th, switched to outside and closed 4 out, went right and hit 3 out, went 3rd before 2 out, no chance with winner, well held when not fluent last op 2/1

4^th

Hell's Kitchen

811-7

14/1

T: H FryJ: B J Geraghty

Tracked leaders, took keen hold, went 2nd after 7th, mistake 11th, lost 2nd 4 out, pushed along before 3 out, awkward and no extra in 4th 2 out, weakened after op 12/1

5^th

God's Own

1111-7

25/1

T: T R GeorgeJ: P J Brennan

Held up in last, effort on inside before 3 out, jumped right and weakened 2 out, remote last when jumped badly right last tchd 22/1

Also Ran

Top Notch

811-7

8/1

T: N J HendersonJ: D A Jacob

Chased leaders, went 2nd 4th until after 7th, hit next and given reminders, outpaced from 11th, mistake and weakened 4 out, pulled up before 2 out op 10/1

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Non-Runners

Woodland Opera¹⁸

Weight: 11-7| Age: 9

T: Mrs J Harrington J: R M Power

Betting Breakdown

Tote Win:£2.70Pl:£1.70, £1.70EX:£7.40Trifecta:£14.40SF:£7.95Swingers:£1.40, £1.20, £1.60

Forecasts

Min (2/1), Waiting Patiently (9/4), Politologue (5/2), Top Notch (8/1), Hell's Kitchen (14/1), God's Own (25/1), Woodland Opera (25/1)

Politologue defends his Melling Chase crown following an honourable defeat at the hands of the mighty Altior in the Queen Mother Champion Chase (with 2018 runner-up Min vastly under-performing). There was precious little to separate that pair in this race last year despite the market coming down heavily in favour of the Willie Mullins-trained runner, with both meriting immense respect. However, following a most frustrating campaign now is finally the time for WAITING PATIENTLY to shine. Connections were left a shade downbeat after his unsuccessful defence of the Ascot Chase, although he did conquer Politologue (fourth) and he should truly relish this flat Mildmay track.