The Melling Chase is a Grade 1 National Hunt steeplechase in Great Britain which is open to horses aged five years or older. It is run at Aintree over a distance of about 2 miles and 4 furlongs (4,023 metres), and during its running there are sixteen fences to be jumped. The race is scheduled to take place each year in early April.
Grade 1 race | |
Location | Aintree Racecourse Merseyside, England |
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Inaugurated | 1991 |
Race type | Steeplechase |
Sponsor | My Pension Expert |
Website | Aintree |
Race information | |
Distance | 2m 4f (4,023 metres) |
Surface | Turf |
Track | Left-handed |
Qualification | Five-years-old and up |
Weight | 11 st 7 lb Allowances 7 lb for mares |
Purse | £250,000 (2022) 1st: £140,325 |
2024 | ||
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Jonbon | Conflated | Protektorat |
Previous years | ||
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2023 | ||
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Pic D'Orhy | Fakir D'Oudairies | Minella Drama |
2022 | ||
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Fakir D'Oudairies | Hitman | Sceau Royal |
2021 | ||
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Fakir D'Oudairies | Nuts Well | Itchy Feet |
The event is named after Melling, a nearby village which is made famous by Melling Road, a public road which crosses the racecourse. It was established in 1991, and it has held Grade 1 status throughout its history. The race is currently staged on the second day of the three-day Grand National meeting.
The field often includes horses which ran in the Queen Mother Champion Chase or the Ryanair Chase at the previous month's Cheltenham Festival.
Records
editMost successful horse (2 wins):
- Viking Flagship – 1995, 1996
- Direct Route – 1999, 2000
- Native Upmanship – 2002, 2003
- Moscow Flyer – 2004, 2005
- Voy Por Ustedes – 2008, 2009
- Fakir D'oudairies - 2021, 2022
Leading jockey (4 wins):
- Barry Geraghty – Moscow Flyer (2004, 2005), Finian's Rainbow (2012), Sprinter Sacre (2013)
Leading trainer (4 wins):
- Paul Nicholls – Fadalko (2001), Master Minded (2011), Politologue (2018), Pic D'Orhy (2023)
- Nicky Henderson - Remittance Man (1992), Finian's Rainbow (2012), Sprinter Sacre (2013), Jonbon (2024)
Winners
edit- ^ The 2020 running was cancelled because of the COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom[1]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ "Coronavirus: Horse racing in Great Britain suspended until end of April". BBC Sport. 17 March 2020.
- aintree.co.uk – 2010 John Smith's Grand National Media Guide.
- pedigreequery.com – Melling Chase – Aintree.
- Ladbrokes Pocket Companion 1992/93. Aesculus Press. 1992. p. 60. ISBN 1-871093-91-0.
External links
edit- Race Recordings [1]