Inside track on the Melling as Politologue, Waiting Patiently and Min clash

3.25 Aintree
JLT Chase (Registered as the Melling Chase) (Grade 1) | 2m4f | 5yo+

Politologue in grand form for title defence

Last year's winner Politologue returns to defend his title on the back of an excellent second in the Champion Chase when he gave the all-conquering Altior a fright up the Cheltenham hill.

After posting a career-best performance, the Paul Nicholls-trained eight-year-old looks ideally placed to take advantage of Altior's absence in this race after the chasing superstar was held back for Sandown later this month.

Twelve months ago Politologue came out on the right side of an epic duel with the reopposing Min, seeming to relish the first-time combination of a hood and tongue-tie, which will be evident again.

Nicholls is hoping the John Hales-owned two-time Grade 1 winner can handle the three-week turnaround since Cheltenham.

"Like with any of them you're not sure how they're going to run here after Cheltenham, but he ran a career best in the Champion Chase and appears to have come out of the race well," said the trainer. "He won the race last year and the track suits, and if he runs to his form he's got a good chance."

Nicholls will be bidding for a fourth win in the race following success with Fadalko in 2001 and, memorably, with Master Minded in 2011.

ProsDug deep to get the better of Min in a tremendous battle last year and seems as good as ever this season

ConsHas twice finished behind Waiting Patiently and might struggle if that rival brings his A-game

Waiting Patiently makes overdue spring appearance

For a horse as classy as Waiting Patiently it seems strange to note that this will be his first appearance at a major spring festival.

Cheltenham has never floated his connections' boat but Aintree was talked about last season until injury intervened, and there will be a sense of making up for lost opportunities as the north's high-rated chaser makes only his 12th career start.

A belated return in the King George did not last long as the star of Ruth Jefferson's Malton stable unseated his rider when badly hampered by the fall of Bristol De Mai at the ninth fence.

Waiting Patiently was then put in his place when attempting to defend his Ascot Chase crown, finishing 17 lengths behind Cyrname, who subsequently became the top-rated horse in training above Altior.

Main market rival Politologue was a further two places back at Ascot and Waiting Patiently also held sway when the pair met in a Grade 2 novice chase at Haydock in 2017.

Connections have opted to run Waiting Patiently in cheekpieces for the first time and regular rider Brian Hughes cannot wait to ride the eight-year-old, who won his first six starts over fences.

"I sat on him two weeks ago and he schooled well and felt great, and the he cheekpieces should help," said Hughes. "He's not had the opportunity to run much with the dry winter and as he's by far the best horse I ride, I'm really looking forward to getting on him again."

ProsNo questioning his ability and the flat track on rain-softened ground should be right up his street

ConsA lightly-raced horse throughout his career, he has had an interrupted campaign and some might be put off by the fact he has only completed one race in 14 months

Min back to renew rivalry with Politologue

Willie Mullins is prepared to put a line through Min's performance at Cheltenham last month when he finished only fifth in the Champion Chase and is expecting a big run from the eight-year-old when he renews rivalry with Politologue in the feature event on the second day of the Grand National meeting.

Min was beaten a neck by Politologue in the race a year ago and was nine and a half lengths behind Paul Nicholls' grey at Cheltenham last time.

Speaking on Thursday. Mullins said: "Apart from Cheltenham, Min has had a good season, winning two Grade 1s, one of them over this trip. We were expecting a good run from him at Cheltenham but a change of tactics didn't seem to work.

"He's better than he ran in the Queen Mother and if he reproduces the form he showed in the race 12 months ago it will give him a very good chance."

Mullins won the race with Boston Bob in 2014 while Ruby Walsh will also be seeking a second win in the event which he landed on Master Minded in 2011.

ProsConsistent performer with three Grade 1 wins over fences to his credit. Went close in this a year ago

ConsRan below expectations at Cheltenham last time although trainer believes a change of tactics told against him

Veteran God's Own out to repeat previous win

Grand National meeting regular God's Own comes alive in the spring, as advertised by his win in this very race in 2016.

Now aged 11, the Tom George stable stalwart – three times a winner at the highest level – has reached veteran status and takes on a field packed with younger legs.

"Unfortunately he was struck into the back of at Cheltenham but he's recovered from that and has been in good form since," said George. "He won this race three years ago and we hope the fire still burns."

Return to fences will suit Top Notch

Top Notch has been mixing hurdles with chasing this season but has been tasked with delivering trainer Nicky Henderson a fourth victory in the race.

The thoroughly likeable eight-year-old, well beaten in the Stayers' Hurdle last month, has won four of his last five starts over fences and will be suited by the return to chasing.

Henderson, whose previous winners were Remittance Man (1992), Finian's Rainbow (2012) and Sprinter Sacre (2013), said: "He's a superstar and very much a yard favourite. He's probably not quite a Grade 1 horse but on ratings he deserves to take his chance and the course suits him. He's a versatile horse and I would love to see him run a big race."

Hell's Kitchen deserves chance

Hell's Kitchen has his quirks but is not short of ability, as he showed when fourth in the Champion Chase.

His three wins have come over similar trips so trainer Harry Fry expects conditions to suit.

"He ran a really nice race in the Champion Chase and we're hoping he can take a step forward from that," said Fry. "He deserves to take his chance and we're hoping the step up in trip will be to his liking."

Big ask for Opera

Key statistic

Barry Geraghty has won the Melling Chase a record four times with Moscow Flyer (2004 and 2005), Finian's Rainbow (2012) and Sprinter Sacre (2013). He bids to make it five with Hell's Kitchen.

Spotlight verdict

Last year's one-two Politologue and Min could be set for another good tussle, assuming the latter is back on song, but Waiting Patiently can trump them both. The Ruth Jefferson-trained eight-year-old beat Politologue in one of his 2017 races, was in front of him in this season's Ascot Chase and may even have more progress in him, with a record of 6-7 in completed chase starts.

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