3.05 Aintree
John Smith´s Melling Chase Grade 1 (Class 1) (5yo+)
Winner: £112,540
Double: 10 pts double My Tent Or Yours, 2.00 Aintree &
Sprinter Sacre, 3.05 Aintree (1.96 Sportingbet)
Advice: 1 pt Sprinter Sacre to win by 8 or more lengths (evs
Coral), 1 pt Cue Card w/o Sprinter Sacre (6/4 general)
Cue Card: Now fully established as top class all rounder and
stepped out of Sprinter Sacre’s shadow when turning competitive running of
Ryanair into a procession, beating First Lieutenant by 9 lengths; That now
looks even more impressive after that one’s Betfair Bowl win yesterday and
while he looks second best to Sprinter, could be the one for the forecast and
has never looked better. 
Finian’s Rainbow: Won this event in dominating style last
year to follow up his Champion Chase win, but hasn’t been half that horse this
season, for all that testing ground no good to him last twice; Should be much
better here and will come here fresh, but still hard to recommend with second
season novices looking so strong.
Flemenstar: Achieved superstardom in Ireland with brilliant
novice season, proceeding to rattle off seven straight wins over fences
including three Grade 1;s, most impressive over this trip at Punchestown when
heavy ground suited him against Sir Des Champs in John Durkan; Bested twice in
premier 3m contests in Ireland but drop down to 2m4f on good ground (conditions
which saw him land Powers Gold Cup by 11 lengths) should suit him and adds huge
intrigue to contest. 
For Non Stop: Solid novice chaser (third in 2m4f novice
event at Cheltenham last year); Brilliant when spreadeagling his field in Old
Roan Chase over C&D but that now a race which very much fell into his lap;
Couldn’t touch Cue Card in Ryanair and
no reason for that. 
Mad Moose: Rarely on best behaviour these days but even so,
14 lengths behind Sprinter Sacre last time they met and no reason for that to
change. 
Sprinter Sacre: Been the superstar of the jumping world
since moving to chasing, winning all eight of his starts over fences in
exemplary style, although nothing nearly as impressive as his Champion Chase
demolition of Sizing Europe by 19 lengths on the bridle; This probably a
tougher examination with Cue Card and Flemenstar in opposition and upto 2m4f
for the first time but that shouldn’t be a problem over this track and still impossible
to reasonably oppose; Still a matter of how far.
VERDICT: A cracking renewal with three of the best chasers
in training going had to head, although nothing on the chasing circuit over 2m
has been able to hold a candle to SPRINTER SACRE, and things shouldn’t be that
much different over 2m4f at this track. The presence of Cue Card and Flemenstar
– with preference for Cue Card in the battle for rest of the rest following his
Ryanair romp – along with Finian’s Rainbow getting his ground for the first
time this season, makes this a fascinating renewal for all to watch, although
Coral’s price of evens for the Henderson charge to win by 8 or more lengths is
tempting considering that he beat Cue Card by 7 easy lengths in last year’s
Arkle – his lowest winning distance over fences is 6 lengths – while the 1.96
on him and My Tent Or Yours as a double looks to be the bet of the day.
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