15.30
SoftMy Pension Expert 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: Cloudy
9/1
Form: -53UU3 D
Last run: 29 days
W: 11st 10lb
10 yo Gelding
OR: 166
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
14th 16 |
10th Apr 2026 Good To Soft 2m 5f 19y Class 1 |
10st 8lb |
Finished third in the 2023 Cheltenham Gold Cup; showed some spark around Punchestown's banks course this February but this 12yo is nothing like the force of old and was well beaten in the cross-country race at Cheltenham last month; without a win since December 2022 and looks up against it. |
66/1 |
|
9th 5 |
11th Mar 2026 Good To Soft 3m 5f 56y Class 2 |
10st 7lb |
Top class over regulation fences in his prime (dual 3m Grade 1 winner) but has regressed and become inconsistent; gave a pretty good account when placed behind Vanillier on Bank course at Punchestown (3m1f, soft to heavy; refitted cheekpieces/first-time tongue-tie) last month but was well beaten on his only C&D start (in 2024); younger rivals appeal much more. |
25/1 |
|
3rd 6 |
4th Feb 2026 Heavy 3m 0f 193y |
11st 4lb |
High-class in his day, winning a brace of Grade 1 Leopardstown contests at 3m; not at that level nowadays, including fourth in C&D cross-country chase at last year's festival; runner-up on latest two runs in point-to-points, most recently at Tyrella 11 days ago; new headgear combination; Jack Kennedy prefers The Goffer. |
7/2 |
14/1
Form: 11-101 D
Last run: 195 days
W: 11st 10lb
10 yo Gelding
OR: 161
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
2nd 1 |
4th Aug 2024 Good To Yielding 2m 6f 111y |
11st 10lb |
prominent, briefly led 7th |
5/2 |
|
18th 2 |
31st Jul 2024 Good 2m 6f 111y |
11st 10lb |
midfield, bad mistake 4th |
20/1 |
|
1st 1 |
3rd Jun 2024 Good 2m 3f 0y |
11st 12lb |
raced in third behind clear leader, went second halfway, clear with one other 5 out, nudged along to lead 2 out, shaken up and went clear run-in |
6/4 |
11/2
Form: 14-322 D BF
Last run: 29 days
W: 11st 10lb
10 yo Gelding
OR: 164
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
9th 1 |
13th Mar 2026 Good 3m 2f 70y Class 1 |
11st 10lb |
His remarkable haul of ten Grade 1 wins includes three at the Cheltenham Festival, and it was at that level that he won at Down Royal in November on his sole outing this season; however, he was a well-beaten third in the Ryanair last March and, now 12, today's task is likely to prove beyond him. |
25/1 |
|
2 |
1st Nov 2025 Good 3m 0f 0y |
11st 10lb |
Winner of this race in 2022 and 2024, just touched off in 2023; eight chase wins also include a Ryanair Chase; ran just twice after last season's win here, unseating in King George and bit below-best but nonetheless creditable third in Ryanair in March; veteran vulnerable to younger rivals but has to be respected. |
9/4 |
|
2 |
1st Nov 2025 Good 3m 0f 0y |
11st 10lb |
Winner of this race in 2022 and 2024, just touched off in 2023; eight chase wins also include a Ryanair Chase; ran just twice after last season's win here, unseating in King George and bit below-best but nonetheless creditable third in Ryanair in March; veteran vulnerable to younger rivals but has to be respected. |
9/4 |
2/1
Form: 11-112 C BF
Last run: 76 days
W: 11st 10lb
8 yo Gelding
OR: 170
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
2nd 6 |
12th Mar 2026 Good To Soft 2m 4f 127y Class 1 |
11st 10lb |
Has maintained an incredibly high standard in Grade 1s over 2m but, although he has won here, his rare reverses have come on this track; no longer quite the speedster he used to be at 2m and the extra stamina test was a help when winning at Ascot (about 2m5f, good to soft) last month, where he could have settled for second had his enduring will to win not come to his aid; now defends a strike-rate of 3-3 at about this trip but it remains to be seen whether he can rise to this very big occasion. |
13/2 |
|
1st 5 |
14th Feb 2026 Soft 2m 5f 13y Class 1 |
11st 10lb |
Acts on any ground; yet to finish out of the first two; formerly dominant at shorter but has lost a bit of his speed and was aided by the stiff test over the 2m1f trip at Ascot (soft) most recently, recording a second success in the Clarence House and 11th Grade 1 win; seems to be crying out for this step back up in distance and, still high class at the age of ten, may well add to his impressive tally; 2-2 over 2m4f, both in the Melling at Aintree; cheekpieces worn in last two starts are retained. |
8/15 |
50/1
Form: 3-2372 D
Last run: 41 days
W: 11st 10lb
9 yo Gelding
OR: 150
| 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 |
7/2
Form: 21-121 CD
Last run: 55 days
W: 11st 10lb
9 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 |
11/4
Form: -43231 CD
Last run: 29 days
W: 11st 10lb
9 yo Gelding
OR: 167
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
2nd 4 |
9th Apr 2026 Good To Soft 3m 0f 210y Class 1 |
11st 10lb |
11yo whose last Grade 1 win came in March 2024 but he showed strong form when keeping on for second of four to Jonbon in the Melling Chase here (2m4f, good) 12 months ago and has won at Windsor (2m6f, soft; warm conditions race) and Kelso (extended 2m7f, good to soft; Listed) on his two runs this year; he should still be fine at this sort of trip and could be a contender. |
15/2 |
|
1st 3 |
28th Feb 2026 Good To Soft 2m 7f 96y Class 1 |
11st 2lb |
Tremendous campaigner who has netted connections over £1m in prize-money; jumped right on occasions but was still firmly on top at finish in valuable conditions chase at Windsor (2m6f, soft) six weeks ago; usually races up with the pace; the clear pick on form and very much the one to beat. |
1/8 |
|
1st 6 |
18th Jan 2026 Soft 2m 6f 50y Class 2 |
11st 2lb |
Bolted up in this race last year (soft); reappeared with very creditable third off a lofty mark in handicap at Cheltenham (3m3f, soft) in November; wind surgery since; this 11yo holds stand-out claims on today's terms. |
8/11 |