Melling-Chase hat-trick by Fakir d`Oudairies?

Aintree, Friday, 14 April: Great sport will also be on offer on today`s second day of the Grand National Festival. The Melling Chase (4th race/16.30pm/250,000 pounds/4023m) is run as the Marsh Chase is one of a total of four Group 1 trials.

Fakir d`Oudairies (Mark Walsh) from the stable of Joseph O`Brien won the race in each of the last two years. This season he was unbeatable against French Dynamite (Darragh O`Keeffe) at Thurles at Group 2 level and in the Ascot Chase (Group 1) he finished third behind Pic d`Orhy (Harry Cobden). The Nicholls protégé did not get over the jumps without an accident in a Novices Chase here last year and conceded victory to Millers Bank (Kielan Woods). In the Petersborough Chase (Group 2), the eight-year-old turned the tables and easily beat Millers Bank by two lengths. Hitman (Lorcan Williams) pulled off brilliantly in the Ryanair Chase (Group 1) finishing third just behind Shishkin. Last year`s runner-up won his last race in November against Minella Drama (Brian Hughes) and others. Fugitif (Sean Bowen) is recommended by three honours at Cheltenham.