Melling Chase

The Melling Chase, currently known for sponsorship purposes as the JLT Chase, is a Grade 1 National Hunt chase 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.

Melling Chase
Grade 1 race
LocationAintree Racecourse
Merseyside, England
Inaugurated1991
Race typeSteeplechase
SponsorJardine Lloyd Thompson
WebsiteAintree
Race information
Distance2m 4f (4,023 metres)
SurfaceTurf
TrackLeft-handed
QualificationFive-years-old and up
Weight11 st 7 lb
Allowances
7 lb for mares
Purse£250,000 (2019)
1st: £140,325
Melling Chase
2019
Min Politologue Waiting Patiently

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):

Leading jockey (4 wins):

  • Barry Geraghty – Moscow Flyer (2004, 2005), Finian's Rainbow (2012), Sprinter Sacre (2013)

Leading trainer (3 wins):

  • Nicky Henderson -Remittance Man (1992), Finian's Rainbow (2012), Sprinter Sacre (2013)
  • Paul Nicholls – Fadalko (2001), Master Minded (2011), Politologue (2018)

Winners
Year
 Winner
 Age
 Jockey
 Trainer
1991 Blazing Walker 7 Chris Grant Arthur Stephenson
1992 Remittance Man 8 Richard Dunwoody Nicky Henderson
1993 Deep Sensation 8 Declan Murphy Josh Gifford
1994 Katabatic 11 Simon McNeill Josh Gifford
1995 Viking Flagship 8 Adrian Maguire David Nicholson
1996 Viking Flagship 9 Tony McCoy David Nicholson
1997 Martha's Son 10 Carl Llewellyn Tim Forster
1998 Opera Hat 10 Conor O'Dwyer John Fowler
1999 Direct Route 8 Norman Williamson Howard Johnson
2000 Direct Route 9 Norman Williamson Howard Johnson
2001 Fadalko 8 Ruby Walsh Paul Nicholls
2002 Native Upmanship 9 Conor O'Dwyer Arthur Moore
2003 Native Upmanship 10 Conor O'Dwyer Arthur Moore
2004 Moscow Flyer 10 Barry Geraghty Jessica Harrington
2005 Moscow Flyer 11 Barry Geraghty Jessica Harrington
2006 Hi Cloy 9 Andrew McNamara Michael Hourigan
2007 Monet's Garden 9 Tony Dobbin Nicky Richards
2008 Voy Por Ustedes 7 Robert Thornton Alan King
2009 Voy Por Ustedes 8 Robert Thornton Alan King
2010 Albertas Run 9 Tony McCoy Jonjo O'Neill
2011 Master Minded 8 Ruby Walsh Paul Nicholls
2012 Finian's Rainbow 9 Barry Geraghty Nicky Henderson
2013 Sprinter Sacre 7 Barry Geraghty Nicky Henderson
2014 Boston Bob 9 Paul Townend Willie Mullins
2015 Don Cossack 8 Tony McCoy Gordon Elliott
2016 God's Own 8 Paddy Brennan Tom George
2017 Fox Norton 7 Robbie Power Colin Tizzard
2018 Politologue 7 Sam Twiston-Davies Paul Nicholls
2019 Min 8 Ruby Walsh Willie Mullins
no race 2020 [lower-alpha 1]
  1. The 2020 running was cancelled because of the COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom[1]

See also

References
  1. "Coronavirus: Horse racing in Great Britain suspended until end of April". BBC Sport. 17 March 2020.
  • 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.
  • Race Recordings
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