Friday’s Melling Chase betting preview: Latest runners, riders, and odds for the final field
FRIDAY’S feature is a proper horse race and arguably the best of the week in terms of quality.
Only seven go to post, but it’s a star-studded lineup and last year’s winner and runner-up are back again.
1. God’s Own – Tom George/Paddy Brennan (25-1)
Won this back in his prime but a hard task now aged eleven.
Ran well at Exeter earlier in the season but was then found out when upped in class in the Champion Chase.
Only a small field, but hard to see him getting involved if all run up to par.
2. Hell’s Kitchen – Harry Fry/Barry Geraghty (12-1)
A tricky customer, but a talented animal on his day and will win a race such as this at some point in his career.
Has proved costly to follow though and this is a competitive Grade 1.
Improved in the Champion Chase to run on for fourth, and this step back up in trip should suit better.
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3. Min – Willie Mullins/Ruby Walsh (3-1)
Ran very strangely in the Champion Chase and it’s only on his back form you could put him in at this price.
Undoubtedly has the class though and Mullins had a good first day at the meeting.
Second in this last year, but would need to improve on the majority of this season’s form.
Willie Mullins on Min
“I think the change of tactics backfired in Cheltenham, which happens.
“He’s in good form, and I’d imagine we’ll change back to the usual tactics on Friday.”
4. Politologue – Paul Nicholls/Harry Cobden (5-2)
Last year’s winner and ran a blinder behind Altior in the Champion Chase.
This trip will arguably suit him better and the flat track seems to bring the best out of him.
Doesn’t have a beast like Altior to deal with here and still relatively lightly raced in the grand scheme of things.
Paul Nicholls on Politologue
He ran incredibly well in the Queen Mother – I would say it was a career-best.
“Two and a half miles on a flat track suits him well, so we are looking forward to seeing if he can win the race for the second year running.
“We just changed tactics with him a little bit at Cheltenham. We took our time and told Harry (Cobden) to save him for one go.
“We rode him very positively in the Champion Chase last season, and he was in front from the back of third-last into the straight, so this time we stalked and stalked and had one go at Altior – and it worked very well.
“We probably learnt that day we don’t need to ride him so aggressively.”
5. Top Notch – Nicky Henderson/Daryl Jacob (8-1)
Failed experiment over hurdles at Cheltenham but can’t be discounted here back over fences and over his perfect trip.
Will probably need a career best to win this outright, but some of his form in the big Festivals would put him bang there.
6. Waiting Patiently – Ruth Jefferson/Brian Hughes (2-1)
Confidence would have grown with the heavy rain on Thursday and punters seem to have already caught on.
Was unbeaten over fences until an unlucky fall in the King George and his run when second to Cyrname is better than what it appears on paper.
This is more his cup of tea and a small field suits his style best.
Ruth Jefferson on Waiting Patiently
“I walked the course on Tuesday and was happy enough with the ground. I thought it was good to soft, good in places – and there are showers forecast, so hopefully it doesn’t dry out too much.
“He seems in good form, and I think the track will suit.
“He travels well through his races, but at Ascot we just felt he was wandering around at the end of the race more than he had previously – so we’re putting a pair of cheekpieces on him.
“We never found out if he stayed three miles when he got brought down in the King George at Kempton, so we thought the sensible thing to do was to stick to what we know for the time being, rather than run him over three miles in the Bowl.”
7. Woodland Opera – Jessica Harrington/Robbie Power (33-1)
Looks to be making up the numbers but Harrington had a winner on the opening day and the race has the potential to be tactical.
Added to that much of his best form has come on good ground and the rain on Thursday will have frustrated the team.