Will Min find the right answers? All you need to know about the big race

3.25 Aintree
JLT Melling Chase (Mildmay) (Grade 1) | 2m4f | 5yo+ | ITV

Can Min deputise now Altior is absent?

Willie Mullins has left most of his big guns at home in order to optimise his chance of reeling in Irish trainers' title leader Gordon Elliott, as he did 12 months ago from a similar position.

Betway Queen Mother Champion Chase second Min is an exception, and with no Altior to worry about this time he has a great chance in a race the stable has won only once before, with Boston Bob in 2014.

Today's longer trip is something of an unknown – Min was a 1-9 chance with only two opponents when scoring over a similar distance at Gowran Park – but he had been first past the post on all five chase starts prior to Cheltenham and if he runs to his best he is the one to beat.

Min (green cap) finished second in the Champion Chase last timeCredit: Edward Whitaker

Mullins said: "He has won over the trip, admittedly at a much lower level. This will be a big test for him but he came out of Cheltenham well and seems to be in very good form."

Ratings suggest Ryanair winner Balko is a huge danger

The market suggests there's precious little between Balko Des Flos and Min, and so do the ratings. Racing Post Ratings favour Min by 2lb, but official marks have Balko Des Flos top by 1lb.

Balko Des Flos: streaked to an easy win in the Ryanair last timeCredit: Alan Crowhurst

The Ryanair winner Balko Des Flos has strong Grade 1 form over three miles and proven stamina on his side in conditions that will be more testing than we are accustomed to at this meeting, but Henry De Bromhead was not mad about the soft ground at Cheltenham – though Balko Des Flos appeared to cope admirably – and we have a similar scenario here.

De Bromhead is optimistic. He said: "He came out of his Cheltenham race very well and seems to be in great form, so we're looking forward to another good run."

Nicholls duo out to spring a surprise

Paul Nicholls is double-handed in a race he won with Fadalko in 2001 and, memorably, with Master Minded in 2011, but Politologue and Le Prezien need career bests if they are to beat Min and Balko Des Flos.

Politologue, in front when falling at the last in the Maghull Novices' Chase here a year ago, has had a cracking season, with a Tingle Creek defeat of Fox Norton among his three successive wins before the turn of the year, but he has twice had his limitations exposed behind Altior since. Nicholls hopes that the first-time tongue tie will make a difference.

Grand Annual winner Le Prezien has always threatened to win a big one, but he was off a mark of only 150 there and probably needs to run close to 170 to be competitive.

Nicholls said: "A flat track suits Politologue, and two and a half miles probably suits too. He's got a bit to find on the Champion Chase form, but if he runs to his best he has a chance. He's wearing a tongue tie for the first time as he didn't quite finish his race off at Cheltenham, and that's been the case on a couple of other occasions. It doesn't do any harm on a horse like that.

Paul Nicholls is quietly confident outsider Le Prezien (pictured) can run a solid raceCredit: John Grossick

"Le Prezien is a staying two-miler, and although he won well at Cheltenham this two and a half miles is really his trip. He's got to raise his game to be competitive, but he's rated 160 now, so he's got to run in these races. I wouldn't be surprised if he ran very well."

Jefferson will be hoping her dreams come true with Cloudy

Cloudy Dream has become something of a nearly horse, and since making a great start to his chasing career by winning his first two starts over fences he has been second eight times – including on three occasions at Aintree – his only success having come in the Future Champions Novices' Chase at Ayr.

His latest effort third in the Ryanair Chase at Cheltenham was another cracking effort, but he will need to step up on it in order to succeed here. Ruth Jefferson is hopeful, but no more than that.

She said: "He likes Aintree and ran really well in the Old Roan over this trip, and also in the Manifesto a year ago. He would have preferred better ground, but he handles soft.

"I gave him an easy week after Cheltenham to freshen him up and he seems well enough in himself, but you never know until they race, and it's tougher than I thought it would be, with all of the good ones staying in."

Powerful combination hoping history repeats itself with Sizing Granite

Sizing Granite was a Grade 1 novice chase winner here three years ago and represents the Potts/Tizzard/Power combination which took this last year with Fox Norton.

Sizing Granite: won a Grade 1 at this track back in 2015Credit: John Grossick (racingpost.com/photos)

However, on paper he has no more than an outside chance, notwithstanding his recent return to form at Newbury following wind surgery, for that was a modest handicap hurdle, and he raced off only 132.

Assistant trainer Joe Tizzard is realistic and said: "It's very competitive. He's a good ground horse and comes right in the spring. He was very well in for his last race, but this is a whole different ball game."

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