Two Grade One races today at Aintree

The Grand National meeting continues today with another high-class programme featuring two Grade One races. The Melling Chase over 2 1/2 miles at 16.10 CET is the main feature, and if Voy por Ustedes (Alan King/ Robert Thornton) is in the same form as 2008, when he beat Master Minded by 18 lengths, then he should score again.

However his form this season is less inspiring and he jumped badly last time at Cheltenham, so that he can possibly be taken on today with Tidal Bay (Howard Johnson/ Denis O´Regan), who finished very fast at Cheltenham, or Nacarat (Tom George/ Tony McCoy), who missed the N.H. festival but has won his last 2 races very easily, or Briareus (Andrew Balding/ Paddy Brennan), who fell at the last in the Champion Chase. The 3 mile novice hurdle at 17.20 also has several Cheltenham contenders in the line up, notably Weapons Amnesty /Charlie Byrnes/ Davy Russell) and Pride of Dulcote (Paul Nicholls/ Ruby Walsh) who fought out one of th best finishes of the meeting, with the Irish horse just prevailing; they meet on the same terms now so there should be little in it again. But Karabak (Alan King/ Tony McCoy) looks a big danger, having also run well at the festival, while Paus and Claus (Emma Lavelle/ Jack Doyle) is another with chances.