Melling Chase

The Melling Chase, currently known for sponsorship purposes as the Marsh Chase, is a Grade 1 National Hunt steeplechase 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
SponsorMarsh
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 (2022)
1st: £140,325
Melling Chase
2023
Royal blue, pink hoops, armlets and cap Emerald green, yellow hoops, white cap Red, yellow stars, armlets and star on cap
Pic D'Orhy Fakir D'Oudairies Minella Drama
Previous years
2022
Emerald green, yellow hoops, white cap White, royal blue epaulets, white sleeves, red spots, royal blue cap Emerald green, dark green sleeves, dark green and emerald green quartered cap
Fakir D'Oudairies Hitman Sceau Royal
2021
Emerald green, yellow hoops, white cap Emerald green, red chevrons, quartered cap Light blue, red braces, white sleeves, red armlets, light blue and red quartered cap
Fakir D'Oudairies Nuts Well Itchy Feet
2020-2011
2019
Pink, light green spots, pink sleeves and cap Yellow, red star, yellow sleeves, white armlets, yellow cap, red star White, royal blue chevron, pink cap
Min Politologue Waiting Patiently
2018
Yellow, red star, yellow sleeves, white armlets, yellow cap, red star Pink, light green spots, pink sleeves and cap Emerald green, yellow chevron and sleeves, red cap
Politologue Min Sizing Granite
2017
Emerald green, yellow chevron and sleeves, red cap Maroon, white star, armlets and star on cap Mauve and black (quartered), mauve sleeves, white cap
Fox Norton Sub Lieutenant Traffic Fluide
2016
Light blue, royal blue star, white and royal blue check sleeves and cap Yellow, red star, yellow sleeves, white armlets, yellow cap, red star Maroon, white star, armlets and star on cap
God's Own Al Ferof Clarcam
2015
Maroon, white star, armlets and star on cap Royal blue, pink star on body and cap, royal blue sleeves, pink stars Red, large black spots, black cap
Don Cossack Cue Card Johns Spirit
2014
Black and beige (halved), chevrons on sleeves, beige cap Dark green, white chevron, light green sleeves, dark green and white check cap Beige and emerald green check, beige sleeves
Boston Bob Rolling Aces Ballynagour
2013
Red, royal blue chevrons, armlets and star on cap Royal blue, pink star on body and cap, royal blue sleeves, pink stars White and red diamonds, white sleeves, white cap, maroon diamonds
Sprinter Sacre Cue Card Flemenstar
2012
White, black cap Dark blue, light blue hoop, checked sleeves and cap Emerald green and yellow (quartered), white sleeves and cap
Finian's Rainbow Wishfull Thinking Albertas Run
2011
Emerald green, yellow spots, yellow and emerald green halved sleeves, purple cap Emerald green and yellow (quartered), white sleeves and cap Dark green, maroon stars, maroon cap
Master Minded Albertas Run Somersby
2010-2001
2010
Emerald green and yellow (quartered), white sleeves and cap Red and white stripes, hooped sleeves, striped cap Black, white seams, checked sleeves, quartered cap
Albertas Run Forpadydeplasterer Monet's Garden
2009
Mauve and pink check, white sleeves, pink cap Red, white chevron, white chevrons on sleeves, quartered cap Dark green and beige (quartered), hooped sleeves, check cap
Voy Por Ustedes Schindlers Hunt Nacarat
2008
Mauve and pink check, white sleeves, pink cap Emerald Green, Yellow spots, Yellow and Emerald Green halved sleeves, Purple cap White, Royal Blue sash, White sleeves, Red armlets, Red cap
Voy Por Ustedes Master Minded Tamarinbleu
2007
Black, white seams, checked sleeves, quartered cap Royal blue, beige cross belts Royal blue, emerald green sleeves, white cap, emerald green spots
Monet's Garden Taranis Well Chief
2006
White, Red hoop, striped sleeves, White cap Emerald green and yellow hoops, white cap Orange, black hoop, hooped sleeves, quartered cap
Hi Cloy Fota Island Mariah Rollins
2005
Black, white chevrons, white sleeves, striped cap Black and white (halved), red sleeves and cap Royal blue, emerald green sleeves, white cap, emerald green spots
Moscow Flyer Le Roi Miguel Therealbandit
2004
Black, white chevrons, white sleeves, striped cap Dark blue, red seams, white cap Dark blue
Moscow Flyer Isio Native Upmanship
2003
Dark blue White, blue star on cap Red, Emerald Green star
Native Upmanship Seebald Kadarann
2002
Dark blue Royal blue, emerald green sleeves, white cap, emerald green spots Mauve and pink check, white sleeves, pink cap
Native Upmanship Wahiba Sands Fadalko
2001
Mauve and pink check, white sleeves, pink cap Royal blue, emerald green sleeves, white cap, emerald green spots Yellow, red stars, red and yellow halved sleeves, yellow cap
Fadalko Lady Cricket Direct Route
2000-1991
2000
Orange, black stars, orange cap, black star White, green sleeves and collar, claret cap Brown, orange sleeves, quartered cap
Direct Route Flying Instructor Makounji
1999
Yellow, red stars, red and yellow halved sleeves, yellow cap Mauve and yellow check, yellow sleeves Purple and yellow diamonds, purple sleeves, yellow cap
Direct Route Mulligan Call Equiname
1997
Turquoise, white chevrons and armlets, white cap Emerald green, white sleeves, emerald green and white check cap Red, white cross belts, hooped sleeves and star on cap
Martha's Son Strong Promise Viking Flagship
1996
Red, white cross belts, hooped sleeves and star on cap Royal blue, red sleeves, light blue cap Pink and yellow diamonds, yellow sleeves and cap
Viking Flagship Sound Man Coulton
1995
Red, white cross belts, hooped sleeves and star on cap Yellow, black hoops, yellow sleeves, black seams Turquoise, white chevrons and armlets, white cap
Viking Flagship Deep Sensation Martha's Son
1994
Maroon and Red check, Red sleeves and cap Yellow and blue diamonds, white sleeves, yellow cap, white star Yellow, black hoops, yellow sleeves, black seams
Katabatic Travado Deep Sensation
1993
Yellow, black hoops, yellow sleeves, black seams Dark green, yellow stars White, royal blue diamonds, white sleeves, white cap, blue spots
Deep Sensation Redundant Pal Gold Options
1992
Black, gold sleeves, red cap Royal blue, light blue disc, armlets and spots on cap White, red stars, dark blue and white striped cap
Remittance Man Edberg Pat's Jester
1991
Yellow, royal blue stripe, armlets and cap Maroon and Red check, Red sleeves and cap Maroon, white sleeves, orange and white quartered cap
Blazing Walker Katabatic Waterloo Boy
 

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 (4 wins):

  • Paul Nicholls – Fadalko (2001), Master Minded (2011), Politologue (2018), Pic D'Orhy (2023)

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]
2021 Fakir D'oudairies 6 Mark Walsh Joseph O'Brien
2022 Fakir D'oudairies 7 Mark Walsh Joseph O'Brien
2023 Pic D'Orhy 8 Harry Cobden Paul Nicholls
  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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