2021 Melling Chase Tips - Returning champion the one to back at Aintree
- We've published our tips for the 2021 Melling Chase
- This Grade One is the feature race on day two of the Grand National Festival
- Politologue and Fakir D'Oudairies are fighting it out for favouritism
- Politologue is our best bet at 5/2
Day two of the Grand National Festival is headlined by the Melling Chase. This two-and-a-half-mile Grade One was first run at Aintree in 1991, and has been won by legends like Viking Flagship, Master Minded and Sprinter Sacre.
I've taken a look through the betting and picked out my best bet.
2021 Melling Chase Odds
| Name | Odds |
|---|---|
| Politologue | 5/2 |
| Fakir D'Oudairies | 5/2 |
| Master Tommytucker | 4/1 |
| Dashel Drasher | 5/1 |
| Nuts Well | 6/1 |
| Notebook | 6/1 |
| Bar | 16/1 |
*Odds taken from bet365 on 6/4/21*
2021 Melling Chase Runners
Fakir D'Oudairies has risen to the top of the Melling Chase betting in recent days. Joseph O'Brien's charge has finished second on five of his last six starts, and had to settle for second on his only previous run at Aintree in the 4-Y-O Hurdle two years ago.
O'Brien withdrew his stable star from the Devenish Chase when the ground came up good at Fairyhouse, and conditions won't be much softer at Aintree. Plus, Fakir D'Oudairies really went through the wringer just to finish a distant second behind Allaho in the Ryanair three weeks ago, and he hasn't had much time to recover.
Notebook is an interesting contender stepping up in trip. Henry De Bromhead's charge is a point-to-point winner, and was deemed a good enough stayer to run in the Ballymore in 2019. Since then, however, he's been kept over two miles, and his last three performances have been very disappoiting.
Dashel Drasher will also want the ground to much softer if he's to be at his best. Master Tommytucker has to be respected, but a tendency to chuck in a howler or two every run makes him fairly easy to sidestep.
Nuts Well hasn't been seen since winning the Old Roan back in October, and it's hard to back a ten-year-old who's having his first start in Grade One company. Itchy Feet and Midnight Shadow fought out the finish in last season's Scilly Isles Chase, but neither has shown much in the way of form since.
2021 Melling Chase Tips
Having been forced to miss the defense of his Champion Chase crown, POLITOLOGUE now travels to Aintree fresher than expected, and the 2018 Melling Chase winner looks the best option in a fairly weak renewal.
Paul Nicholls's charge beat Min here in 2018, before following that same rival home the following season. Since scoring that shock win in the Champion Chase, Politologue has claimed an emphatic win in the Tingle Creek, and kept on gamely to finish second behind First Flow in the Clarence House.
Despite all his achievements over the minimum distance, I'm convinced two-and-a-half-miles is Politologue's best trip. Paul Nicholls' grey has won several times on good ground, and it was only a minor nose bleed that saw him withdrawn from the Champion Chase, so he should be firing on all cylinders.
Verdict
Politologue has plenty of previous in the Melling Chase and missing the Cheltenham Festival could prove to be a blessing in disguise. He's the best option at 5/2.
Politologue
Straight Win
@5/2 - 20 Units
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