The third of four Grade One races on day two of Aintree's Grand National Festival is the Melling Chase.
The Melling Chase was introduced to the schedule at Aintree in 1991. The race is run over a trip of two-and-a-half-miles, and great names like Viking Flagship, Moscow Flyer and Sprinter Sacre feature on the roll of honour.
Melling Chase Key Facts
Date
Friday 12th April, 2024
Track
Aintree
Trip
2m 4f
Status
Grade One
First Prize
£250k
Age
5YO+
Melling Chase Odds
No odds are currently available for the Melling Chase.
Melling Chase Tips
When the entries have been revealed, we'll publish our guide to the Melling Chase.
The Melling Chase was slotted into the Grand National Festival in 1991. Horses who ran in the Champion Chase and the Ryanair Chase at the Cheltenham Festival often go on to run in the Melling Chase.
Remittance Man handed Nicky Henderson his first Melling Chase win in 1992. Henderson has won the race twice since then, most recently with Sprinter Sacre in 2013, as the short-priced favourite lived up to his star billing.
Paul Nicholls has also saddled three Melling Chase winners. Fadalko won in 2001, before Champion Chasers Master Minded and Politologue won in 2011 and '18 respectively.
Viking Flagship was the first two-time winner of the Melling Chase, scoring in 1995 and 96. Direct Route and Native Upmanship repeated that feat. As did the great Moscow Flyer, who won in 2005 and '05.
Voy Pour Ustedes is the last horse to have successfully defended the Melling Chase, winning in 2008 and '09.
Future Gold Cup winner, Don Cossack handed Gordon Elliott his only win in this Grade One in 2015. Tom George and Colin Tizzard have both won the race with God's Own and Fox Norton respectively.
Willie Mullins' first victory came courtesy of Boston Bob in 2014. Mullins saddled his second winner in 2019, as Min destroyed Politologue and Waiting Patiently to score an emphatic victory in the Melling Chase.
