The Melling Chase is a Grade 1 National Hunt steeplechase in Great Britain which is open to horses aged five years or older. It is run at Aintree over a distance of about 2 miles and 4 furlongs (4,023 metres), and during its running there are sixteen fences to be jumped. The race is scheduled to take place each year in early April.
| Grade 1 race | |
| Location | Aintree Racecourse Merseyside, England |
|---|---|
| Inaugurated | 1991 |
| Race type | Steeplechase |
| Sponsor | My Pension Expert |
| Website | Aintree |
| Race information | |
| Distance | 2m 4f (4,023 metres) |
| Surface | Turf |
| Track | Left-handed |
| Qualification | Five-years-old and up |
| Weight | 11 st 7 lb Allowances 7 lb for mares |
| Purse | £250,000 (2022) 1st: £140,325 |
| 2024 | ||
 |  |  |
| Jonbon | Conflated | Protektorat |
| Previous years | ||
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | ||
 | |  |
| Pic D'Orhy | Fakir D'Oudairies | Minella Drama |
| 2022 | ||
|  |  |
| Fakir D'Oudairies | Hitman | Sceau Royal |
| 2021 | ||
|  |  |
| Fakir D'Oudairies | Nuts Well | Itchy Feet |
| 2020-2011 | ||
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | ||
 | |  |
| Min | Politologue | Waiting Patiently |
| 2018 | ||
| |  |
| Politologue | Min | Sizing Granite |
| 2017 | ||
| |  |
| Fox Norton | Sub Lieutenant | Traffic Fluide |
| 2016 | ||
 | | |
| God's Own | Al Ferof | Clarcam |
| 2015 | ||
|  |  |
| Don Cossack | Cue Card | Johns Spirit |
| 2014 | ||
 |  |  |
| Boston Bob | Rolling Aces | Ballynagour |
| 2013 | ||
 | |  |
| Sprinter Sacre | Cue Card | Flemenstar |
| 2012 | ||
 |  |  |
| Finian's Rainbow | Wishfull Thinking | Albertas Run |
| 2011 | ||
 | |  |
| Master Minded | Albertas Run | Somersby |
| 2010-2001 | ||
|---|---|---|
| 2010 | ||
|  |  |
| Albertas Run | Forpadydeplasterer | Monet's Garden |
| 2009 | ||
 |  |  |
| Voy Por Ustedes | Schindlers Hunt | Nacarat |
| 2008 | ||
| |  |
| Voy Por Ustedes | Master Minded | Tamarinbleu |
| 2007 | ||
|  |  |
| Monet's Garden | Taranis | Well Chief |
| 2006 | ||
 | |  |
| Hi Cloy | Fota Island | Mariah Rollins |
| 2005 | ||
 |  | |
| Moscow Flyer | Le Roi Miguel | Therealbandit |
| 2004 | ||
|  |  |
| Moscow Flyer | Isio | Native Upmanship |
| 2003 | ||
|  |  |
| Native Upmanship | Seebald | Kadarann |
| 2002 | ||
| | |
| Native Upmanship | Wahiba Sands | Fadalko |
| 2001 | ||
| |  |
| Fadalko | Lady Cricket | Direct Route |
| 2000-1991 | ||
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | ||
 |  |  |
| Direct Route | Flying Instructor | Makounji |
| 1999 | ||
|  |  |
| Direct Route | Mulligan | Call Equiname |
| 1997 | ||
 |  |  |
| Martha's Son | Strong Promise | Viking Flagship |
| 1996 | ||
|  |  |
| Viking Flagship | Sound Man | Coulton |
| 1995 | ||
|  | |
| Viking Flagship | Deep Sensation | Martha's Son |
| 1994 | ||
 |  | |
| Katabatic | Travado | Deep Sensation |
| 1993 | ||
|  |  |
| Deep Sensation | Redundant Pal | Gold Options |
| 1992 | ||
 |  |  |
| Remittance Man | Edberg | Pat's Jester |
| 1991 | ||
 | |  |
| Blazing Walker | Katabatic | Waterloo Boy |
The event is named after Melling, a nearby village which is made famous by Melling Road, a public road which crosses the racecourse. It was established in 1991, and it has held Grade 1 status throughout its history. The race is currently staged on the second day of the three-day Grand National meeting.
The field often includes horses which ran in the Queen Mother Champion Chase or the Ryanair Chase at the previous month's Cheltenham Festival.
Records
Most successful horse (2 wins):
- Viking Flagship – 1995, 1996
- Direct Route – 1999, 2000
- Native Upmanship – 2002, 2003
- Moscow Flyer – 2004, 2005
- Voy Por Ustedes – 2008, 2009
- Fakir D'oudairies - 2021, 2022
Leading jockey (4 wins):
- Barry Geraghty – Moscow Flyer (2004, 2005), Finian's Rainbow (2012), Sprinter Sacre (2013)
Leading trainer (4 wins):
- Paul Nicholls – Fadalko (2001), Master Minded (2011), Politologue (2018), Pic D'Orhy (2023)
- Nicky Henderson - Remittance Man (1992), Finian's Rainbow (2012), Sprinter Sacre (2013), Jonbon (2024)
Winners
See also
References
- aintree.co.uk – 2010 John Smith's Grand National Media Guide.
- pedigreequery.com – Melling Chase – Aintree.
- Ladbrokes Pocket Companion 1992/93. Aesculus Press. 1992. p. 60. ISBN 1-871093-91-0.
External links
- Race Recordings [1]