15.30
Good To SoftMarsh Chase (Registered As The Melling Chase) (Grade 1) (GBB Race)
- Prize money: £140325
- 2m 3f 200y
- Class 1
- 7 runners
Runners: 7 runners
Type: Chase Turf
Surface: Turf
Weather: Light rain
2/1 (Won)
- Win: £5.00
- Place: £2.60
Form: P-1112 D
Last run: 55 days
W: 11st 10lb
8 yo Gelding
OR: 162
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
3rd 3 |
9th Apr 2026 Good To Soft 3m 0f 210y Class 1 |
11st 10lb |
11yo who looked as good as ever when runner-up in a captivating battle with Jonbon in the Ascot Chase (2m5f, good to soft) in February, when bidding to win that Grade 1 for the third consecutive year; won the Grade 1 Melling Chase here (2m4f, soft) in 2023; seemed fine at 3m when 1l second in this season's Charlie Hall (good) and his trainer has won this race six times; no surprise to see a bold bid from this front-runner, who is not ruled out. |
14/1 |
|
2nd 6 |
14th Feb 2026 Soft 2m 5f 13y Class 1 |
11st 10lb |
Smart front-runner whose record of 5-9 over fences at Ascot features emphatic wins in this race for the last two years (good/good to soft; has scored on soft); had excuses (soon taken on for lead, race possibly came too soon after reappearance) over C&D in November when last seen, failing to land the 1965 Chase for a third time; perhaps best caught fresh nowadays and, assuming he's able to dominate, commands respect in another hat-trick attempt. |
7/4 |
|
2 |
1st Nov 2025 Good 3m 0f 45y Class 1 |
11st 10lb |
Multiple Grade 2 chase winner who has also won three Grade 1s (good-soft), the latest being the 2m5f Ascot Chase in February; this 10yo is unproven beyond that trip and unraced over 3m, but there's every chance he'll stay and he goes well fresh; key player under 6lb penalty if seeing it out. |
9/2 |
9/4
- Place: £1.60
Form: 1-5213 CD BF
Last run: 55 days
W: 11st 10lb
8 yo Gelding
OR: 163
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
9th 6 |
25th May 2026 Good 2m 7f 80y |
10st 13lb |
Four-time Grade 1 winner back in the day, but not the same force nowadays; has been running in cross-country chases lately, sixth at Cheltenham and second over 3m at Punchestown; trainer is a wizard with these types, but unlikely to feature all the same. |
12/1 |
|
2nd 14 |
2nd May 2026 Good To Yielding 3m 0f 90y |
11st 7lb |
Four-time Grade 1 chase winner (peaked at 167) for Joseph O'Brien but left yard after a disappointing cross-country debut in December 2024; just okay efforts back on cross-country circuit this term, most recently poor effort back over conventional fences at Wexford last month; hard to assess right now. |
12/1 |
|
14th 1 |
10th Apr 2026 Good To Yielding 2m 3f 100y |
11st 12lb |
Four-time Grade 1 chase winner (peaked at 167) for Joseph O'Brien but left yard after a disappointing cross-country debut in December 2024; just okay efforts back on cross-country circuit of late, at Punchestown and when not looking to stay 3m6f at Cheltenham last month; back over the conventional fences here and hard to assess (trip/ground to suit) but handicapper giving him every chance. |
15/2 |
25/1
Form: 2-4311 D
Last run: 56 days
W: 11st 10lb
8 yo Gelding
OR: 154
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
2 |
23rd Apr 2026 Good To Soft 2m 7f 180y Class 3 |
12st 2lb |
Very useful chaser at his best, last win coming in the 2024 Old Roan Chase at Aintree (2m4f, good); highly tried this term, best run when second in a Listed chase at Kelso in February (2m7f, good to soft); on a fair mark now. |
9/1 |
|
1 |
4th Apr 2026 Good To Soft 2m 3f 203y Class 2 |
12st 0lb |
Inconsistent nowadays but ran well in second when facing an impossible mission behind Protektorat at Kelso (2m7f, good to soft) last time; now 5lb lower than when third in the Old Roan Chase at Aintree (2m4f, good to soft) in October and this C&D winner is capable of being involved. |
11/1 |
|
2nd 1 |
28th Feb 2026 Good To Soft 2m 7f 96y Class 1 |
11st 8lb |
Smart on his day and ran creditably when third in the Old Roan at Aintree (2m4f, good to soft) in October, a race he'd won in 2024; however, two runs since have been poor and he has to concede weight all round. |
11/1 |
8/1
Form: 312524 D
Last run: 29 days
W: 11st 10lb
8 yo Gelding
OR: 156
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
1 |
19th Oct 2025 Good 3m 0f 0y |
11st 12lb |
Three chase wins, including a 2m7f Grade 3 at Punchestown last October; often highly tried when with Mouse Morris; creditable third in the Kerry National on stable debut; fair chance with 5lb off again; trainer (responsible for last year's winner) also has Weveallbeencaught in the line-up. |
9/1 |
|
3rd 5 |
24th Sep 2025 Yielding To Soft 2m 7f 180y |
11st 6lb |
Three chase wins, including a 2m7f Grade 3 at Punchestown last October; often highly tried when with Mouse Morris; his new trainer knows what it takes to win this; possible each-way value. |
20/1 |
|
2nd 6 |
3rd May 2025 Yielding 3m 0f 90y |
11st 12lb |
Three chase wins, including a 2m7f Grade 3 at this venue last October, beating Minella Indo; ran well for a long way before weakening in the Cross Country Handicap at Cheltenham; never threatened in the Topham. |
7/1 |
10/1
Form: 8-2122 D
Last run: 29 days
W: 11st 10lb
8 yo Gelding
OR: 153
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
5th 6 |
15th Apr 2026 Good 2m 3f 203y Class 1 |
11st 2lb |
No win since late 2023 and he hasn't got a lot going this season; he had run well but looked on the retreat when unseating in Outlaw Peter's race here 11 days ago (visor replaced usual cheekpieces). |
12/1 |
|
5 |
4th Apr 2026 Good To Soft 2m 3f 203y Class 2 |
11st 5lb |
Winless since December 2023 and hasn't posed a serious threat this season; however, he was best of the rest behind easy winner Guard Your Dreams at Warwick (2m4f, heavy) last time and continues to drop down the weights; handles various ground; not ruled out in first-time visor (replacing cheekpieces). |
8/1 |
|
2nd 3 |
7th Feb 2026 Soft 2m 4f 0y Class 2 |
11st 5lb |
Quirky customer who is without a win since December 2023 and has become frustrating; that said, he ran well for a long way in a valuable Ascot handicap (2m5f, soft) three weeks ago and is another 4lb lower here. |
15/2 |
5/1
Form: -21P23 D
Last run: 29 days
W: 11st 10lb
7 yo Gelding
OR: 159
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
5 |
10th Apr 2026 Good To Soft 2m 5f 19y Class 1 |
11st 7lb |
10yo who has become inconsistent and hasn't shone on his last two starts; however, he has a good record over regulation fences here and has the same mark as when winning the Old Roan (2m4f, good to soft) last October; prominent for a fair way in last season's Grand National; not written off. |
33/1 |
|
1 |
17th Jan 2026 Good To Soft 2m 5f 13y Class 2 |
12st 0lb |
Runner-up in this race last year and he ended a long losing sequence in the Old Roan at Aintree (2m4f, good to soft) on reappearance; however, he's less consistent than he once was and he was well held in the Peterborough Chase at Huntingdon last time; needs to bounce back from that. |
8/1 |
|
3 |
26th Oct 2025 Good 2m 3f 200y Class 1 |
11st 3lb |
9yo who has won just one of his last 21 starts and struggled on his final two outings last season (albeit in Grand National on first occasion); however, he often runs very well, as when runner-up in this race last year (good) and in 2022 (good to soft), and there's every chance he'll be bang there. |
6/1 |
10/1
Form: 5U2265 CD
Last run: 55 days
W: 11st 10lb
9 yo Gelding
OR: 153
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
5th 1 |
16th Mar 2024 Good To Soft 2m 4f 110y Class 2 |
12st 0lb |
Well-held last of three runners over hurdles on sole outing this term; had wind surgery (his fourth) since; very useful chaser on his day and bagged Grade 1 honours over 2m4f at Aintree (as a novice) two years ago; possibilities off this mark, provided he's back on song. |
9/1 |
|
3rd 2 |
11th Nov 2023 Soft 2m 4f 0y Class 2 |
11st 2lb |
Highly tried and lost his way over fences last season after two good seconds over this trip before Christmas; now reverts to hurdling and he's certainly interesting on his third in the 2021 Aintree Hurdle, while a 10l win in the 2022 Manifesto Novices' Chase (again 2m4f, good to soft) underlines his liking for this course; carries risks but not ruled out by any means. |
100/30 |
+o+e Accumulators
| Payout | |
|---|---|
| Exacta | £9.40 |
| Straight Forecast | £11.51 |
| Trifecta | £127.70 |
Selections
RP Ratings:
Fakir D'oudairiesThe Guardian:
Fakir D'oudairiesDaily Mail:
Fakir D'oudairiesD Express:
Fakir D'oudairiesThe Sun:
Fakir D'oudairiesDaily Record:
Fakir D'oudairies