Melling Chase, Aintree

Agree with you about price but I was under the impression he would be going to Sandown

Yard told me Sandown at the open day.

The price for Altior for this race is indicating Sandown the most likely destination otherwise Punchestown Champion Chase would be a tastier proposition given prize money and prestige than this race. If running here one must be ready to avail to his Gold Cup prices (here),  presently 55+.

Nibbled into 7/4 for Melling

The plan for Altior is the JLT Melling Chase and we still have the option of Sandown. Aintree would be the perfect place to step him up to two and a half miles for the first time and I am rather looking forward to it and would like to step him up. He has put up two copybook performances in both his starts this season and let’s hope he can continue doing that.

The market could be indicating this race - he is into odds-on. Nevertheless, I'd be (pleasantly) surprised if he runs here given his exertion at Cheltenham. But Min has also been backed for this race,...try to decipher that?

Altior appears to be out.  Tricky business this ante-post punting...

Henderson has Top Notch if he comes back to his best.

Good to soft-soft in places; national course: soft-gd to sft plcs


Seriously ?? they got their own climate there ffs

Yesterday someone knew Altior would be an absentee pushing him out from 2.02 to 3.15 eventually with quite a bit on offer. I hope the party concerned "choked" on their cornflakes!

As such, Min would be a serious doubtful stater in the Irish Champion Chase (ICC) leaving a penalty kick for his stablemate Douvan, assuming the muscle spasm which gives rise to intermittent lameness does not rear its ugly head prior to the ICC.

Some courses seem to be drying out quite fast, others still under water.