The National Meeting - Day Two 1990-
The Melling Chase
The Grade One Melling Chase was first run in 1991 as a championship race for two and half milers. After the National itself this is the most important and valuable race at the meeting and is widely considered as the follow-up to the Queen Mother Chase at Cheltenham. Although run over a further half mile, the race is run over the fast, flat and widely considered easier Mildmay course and it is notable that of the twelve Queen Mother Champions who followed up with a run in the Melling Chase seven won. It has retained it`s status despite the introduction of the Ryanair Chase at the extended four day Festival in 2006.
A race of triumph and tragedy, the 1995 renewal where three Queen Mother Champions, Viking Flagship, Deep Sensation and Martha`s Son were level at the last with the first named just prevailing by a short head is widely considered one of the most exciting jumps races ever seen in the UK. It provided AP McCoy with both his first Grade 1 victory in 1996 and his last some twenty years later. Vautours fall at the ninth fence when clear at prohibitive odds of 1-5 is one of the greatest shocks in recent years. And let us not forget that it is also remembered as the race which claimed the life of the much loved One Man in 1998.
The Melling Chase is a fascinating and wonderful race and this page celebrates its history.
Role of Honour
1991 BLAZING WALKER (W A Stephenson) - Chris Grant (7)
1992 REMITTANCE MAN (Nicky Henderson) - Richard Dunwoody (4)
1993 DEEP SENSATION (Josh Gifford) - Declan Murphy (4)
1994 KATABATIC (Josh Gifford) - Simon McNeill (5)
1995 VIKING FLAGSHIP (David Nicholson) - Adrian Maguire (6)
1996 VIKING FLAGSHIP (David Nicholson) - A P McCoy (4)
1997 MARTHA'S SON (Capt T A Forster) - Carl Llewllyn (4)
1998 OPERA HAT (J H Fowler - Ireland) - Conor O'Dwyer (5)
1999 DIRECT ROUTE (J Howard Johnson) - Norman Williamson (6)
2000 DIRECT ROUTE (J Howard Johnson) - Norman Williamson (5)
2001 FADALKO (Paul Nicholls) - Ruby Walsh (7)
2002 NATIVE UPMANSHIP (A L T Moore - Ireland) - Conor O'Dwyer (8)
2003 NATIVE UPMANSHIP (A L T Moore - Ireland) - Conor O'Dwyer (6)
2004 MOSCOW FLYER (Jessica Harrington - Ireland) - Barry Geraghty (7)
2005 MOSCOW FLYER (Jessica Harrington - Ireland) - Barry Geraghty (6)
2006 HI CLOY (M.Hourigan - Ireland) - Andrew McNamara (11)
2007 MONET'S GARDEN (Nicky Richards) - Tony Dobbin (6)
2008 VOY POR USTEDES (Alan King) - Robert Thornton (6)
2009 VOY POR USTEDES (Alan King) - Robert Thornton (10)
2010 ALBERTAS RUN (Jonjo O'Neill) - A P McCoy (11)
2011 MASTER MINDED (Paul Nicholls) - Ruby Walsh (10)
2012 FINIAN'S RAINBOW (Nicky Henderson) - Barry Geraghty (8)
2013 SPRINTER SACRE (Nicky Henderson) - Barry Geraghty (6)
2014 BOSTON BOB (Willie Mullins - Ireland) - Paul Townend (10)
2015 DON COSSACK (Gordon Elliott - Ireland) - A P McCoy (10)
2016 GOD'S OWN (Tom George) - Paddy Brennan (6)
2017 FOX NORTON (Colin Tizzard) - Robbie Power (9)
2018 POLITOLOGUE (Paul Nicholls) - Sam Twiston-Davies (6)
2019 MIN (Willie Mullins - Ireland) - Ruby Walsh (6)
2020 No race due to the Covid-19 Pandemic
2021 FAKIR D'OUDAIRIE (Joseph O'Brien - Ireland) - Mark Walsh (7)
2022 FAKIR D'OUDAIRIE (Joseph O'Brien - Ireland) - Mark Walsh (10)
2023 PIC D'ORHY (Paul Nicholls) - Harry Cobden (7)
2024 JONBON (Nicky Henderson) - Nico de Boinville (7)
Most wins
HORSES
2 Direct Route 1999, 2000
Fakir D'Oudairie 2021, 2022
Moscow Flyer 2004, 2005
Native Upmanship 2002, 2003
Viking Flagship 1995, 1996
Voy Pur Ustedes 2008, 2009
OWNERS
3 Sir Robert Ogden - Fadalko (2001), Voy Pur Ustedes (2008 & 2009)
TRAINERS
4 Paul Nicholls 2001, 2011, 2018, 2023
Nicky Henderson 1992, 2012, 2013, 2024
JOCKEYS
4 Barry Geraghty 2004, 2005, 2013, 2014
3 A P McCoy 1996, 2010, 2015
Conor O`Dwyer 1998, 2002, 2003
Ruby Walsh 2001, 2011, 2019
Most rides
15 rides - Ruby Wash
14 rides - A P McCoy
Most rides without winning
9 rides - Richard Johnson
Largest Winning Margin
28 lengths - Don Cossack bt Cue Card in 2015
20 lengths - Min bt Politilogue in 2019
18 lengths - Voy Pur Ustedes bt Master Minded in 2008
Shortest Winning Margin
short-head - Viking Flagship bt Deep Sensation in 1995
Head - Voy Pur Ustedes bt Schindlers Hunt in 2009
Highest Price Winner
14-1 Katabatic 1994
Hi Cloy 2006
Opera Hat 1998
Shortest Price Winner
1-3 Sprinter Sacre 2013
4-9 Moscow Flyer 2005
Shortest Price Loser
1-5 Vautour - faller in 2016
Favourites
16 favourites from 33 renewals (including one joint favourite) 48.48 %
Most Consecutive winning favourites
3 - 2003-2005
Most Consecutive losing favourites
6 - 1994-1999
Highest priced runners
200-1 Davoski - Last of five finishers - 2005
200-1 Strong Magic - Last of five finishers - 2004
Fastest Winning Times
4 mins 53.10 Don Cossack 2015
4 mins 53.15 Viking Flagship 1995
Slowest Winning Time
5 mins 35.41 Fadalko 2001
Oldest Winning Horses
11 years Katabatic 1994
Moscow Flyer 2005
Youngest Winning Horse
6 years Fakir D'Oudairie 2021
Winning Ages
6-y-0 1 win
7-y-0 7 wins
8-y-0 11 wins
9-y-0 9 wins
10-y-0 4 wins
11-y-0 2 wins
Field sizes
11 2010, 2006
10 2009, 2011, 2014, 2015, 2022
9 2017
8 2002, 2012
7 1991, 2001, 2004, 2021, 2023, 2024
6 1995, 1999, 2003, 2005, 2007, 2008, 2013, 2016, 2018, 2019
5 1994, 1998, 2000
4 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997
Fatalites
1998 One Man
2010 Schindlers Hunt
2015 Balder Success
(230 runners - 1.3 %)
Queen Mother Champion Chase winners in that years Melling Chase
1991 KATABATIC 2nd
1992 REMITTANCE MAN WON
1993 DEEP SENSATION WON
1995 VIKING FLAGSHIP WON
1996 KLAIRON DAVIES 4th
1997 MARTHA'S SON WON
1998 ONE MAN Fell
1999 CALL EQUINAME 3rd
2005 MOSCOW FLYER WON
2008 MASTER MINDED 2nd
2012 FINIANS RAINBOW WON
2013 SPRINTER SACRE WON
Leading Jockeys
Barry.Geraghty - Four wins from eleven rides
A P McCoy - Three wins, five seconds & two thirds from fourteen rides
Ruby Walsh - Three wins, three seconds & two thirds from fifteen rides
Conor O`Dwyer - Three wins & a third from five rides
Mark Walsh - Two wins from two rides
Norman Williamson - Two wins, three seconds & one third from eight rides
Robert Thornton - Two wins & a third from four rides
Richard Dunwoody - One win, a second & two thirds in six rides
Adrian Maguire - One win & a second from two rides
Paul Townend - One win & a second from three rides
Andrew McNamara - One win & a third from six rides
Tony Dobbin, Chris Grant, Carl Llewellyn & Simon McNeill all won on their only ride
The legendary Master Minded - beaten in 2008 but victorious in 2011 (above)
Vautour sensationally falls in 2016
Day Two
Race One - Mildmay Novices Chase - Three miles & one furlong - Not to be confused with the old Mildmay Chase, this was first run in 1981 and boasts an impressive list of former winners. Grand National winner Royal Athlete lifted this in 1990 and future Gold Cup winner Native River won in 2016. Other notable winners include the enigmatic Might Bite in 2017 who is one of three horses since 1990 to win both this and the RSA Case at the Festival (the others being Monsieur le Cure in 1994 and Star de Mohaison in 2006). The race has also been won by dual King George/Betway Bowl winner Silviniaco Conti in 2012 and before he became a sensational long distance hurdler Big Bucks gained his most valuable win over fences in this in 2008. It is also a race to spot future National runners - Banjo (1995), Addington Boy (1996), Cyborgo (1997), Whats Up Boys (2001), Killyglen (2009), Burton Port (2010), Quito de la Roque (2011), Holywell (2014) and Saphir du Rheu (2015) all ran in a National with varying degrees of success after winning this. Upgraded to Grade One status in 2014 it has been a feature of the second day since 1992 and was moved to the opening contest in 2023
Race Two - Handicap Hurdle - Two & a half miles - First run in 1989 this handicap hurdle was sponsored in 2023 by William Hill.
Race Three - Top Novices Hurdle - Two miles - First run in 1976 this was upgraded to Grade 1 status in 2016. It has produced two Champion Hurdle winners, Granville Again in 1991 and dual Champion Buveur D'Air. Other notable winners include My Tent or Yours and the ill-fated Christmas Hurdle winner Darlan. It opened the meeting on the Thursday between 1992 and 2000 and was moved to the second day where it has remained in 2002
Race Four - Melling Chase - see above
Race Five - Topham Chase - see elsewhere
Race Six - Sefton Novices Hurdle - Three miles & half a furlong - First run in 1988 and promoted to Grade 1 status in 1995. The most notable winners have included King George VI/Betway Bowl winner Barton Bank (1992), Stayers Hurdle winner Iris's Gift (2003) and the potentially brilliant Thistlecrack (2015). It also boasts Aintree and Grand National specialist Saint Are (2011) amongst its role of honour. He managed victories over hurdles and on the Mildmay course as well as finishing second and third in the Grand National. Other future National runners to have won this are Unsinkable Boxer (1998), Chief Dan George (2007) and Wayward Prince (2010). Since 1995 this race has been run on the second day of the meeting
Race Seven - Handicap Hurdle for Conditional Jockeys and Amateur riders - 2 miles, half a furlong - The race after the National has usually been confined to either amateurs or conditional jockeys. From 1990 until 1995 this was a novice chase for amateur riders. This was replaced with a novice hunter chase which ran until 2003 before being transferred to one of the evening meetings in May. A new novice chase for amateurs and conditional was then run until 2008 with this new race beng staged for the first time in 2009. To my knowledge the only National winning rider to ride in this was David Mullins in 2016 - he won it too, on Ivan Gruzny. The race was switched with the bumper in 2021.