Melling Chase
The Melling 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.
| Grade 1 race | |
| Location | Aintree Racecourse Merseyside, England |
|---|---|
| Inaugurated | 1991 |
| Race type | Steeplechase |
| Sponsor | My Pension Expert |
| Website | Aintree |
| Race information | |
| Distance | 2m 4f (4,023 metres) |
| Surface | Turf |
| Track | Left-handed |
| Qualification | Five-years-old and up |
| Weight | 11 st 7 lb Allowances 7 lb for mares |
| Purse | £250,000 (2022) 1st: £140,325 |
| 2023 | ||
| Pic D'Orhy | Fakir D'Oudairies | Minella Drama |
| Previous years | ||
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | ||
| Fakir D'Oudairies | Hitman | Sceau Royal |
| 2021 | ||
| Fakir D'Oudairies | Nuts Well | Itchy Feet |
| 2020-2011 | ||
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | ||
| Min | Politologue | Waiting Patiently |
| 2018 | ||
| Politologue | Min | Sizing Granite |
| 2017 | ||
| Fox Norton | Sub Lieutenant | Traffic Fluide |
| 2016 | ||
| God's Own | Al Ferof | Clarcam |
| 2015 | ||
| Don Cossack | Cue Card | Johns Spirit |
| 2014 | ||
| Boston Bob | Rolling Aces | Ballynagour |
| 2013 | ||
| Sprinter Sacre | Cue Card | Flemenstar |
| 2012 | ||
| Finian's Rainbow | Wishfull Thinking | Albertas Run |
| 2011 | ||
| Master Minded | Albertas Run | Somersby |
| 2010-2001 | ||
|---|---|---|
| 2010 | ||
| Albertas Run | Forpadydeplasterer | Monet's Garden |
| 2009 | ||
| Voy Por Ustedes | Schindlers Hunt | Nacarat |
| 2008 | ||
| Voy Por Ustedes | Master Minded | Tamarinbleu |
| 2007 | ||
| Monet's Garden | Taranis | Well Chief |
| 2006 | ||
| Hi Cloy | Fota Island | Mariah Rollins |
| 2005 | ||
| Moscow Flyer | Le Roi Miguel | Therealbandit |
| 2004 | ||
| Moscow Flyer | Isio | Native Upmanship |
| 2003 | ||
| Native Upmanship | Seebald | Kadarann |
| 2002 | ||
| Native Upmanship | Wahiba Sands | Fadalko |
| 2001 | ||
| Fadalko | Lady Cricket | Direct Route |
| 2000-1991 | ||
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | ||
| Direct Route | Flying Instructor | Makounji |
| 1999 | ||
| Direct Route | Mulligan | Call Equiname |
| 1997 | ||
| Martha's Son | Strong Promise | Viking Flagship |
| 1996 | ||
| Viking Flagship | Sound Man | Coulton |
| 1995 | ||
| Viking Flagship | Deep Sensation | Martha's Son |
| 1994 | ||
| Katabatic | Travado | Deep Sensation |
| 1993 | ||
| Deep Sensation | Redundant Pal | Gold Options |
| 1992 | ||
| Remittance Man | Edberg | Pat's Jester |
| 1991 | ||
| 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.