10 Apr 2015 15:25 Aintree
Winner: £200,000 (Penalty: £112,540); Distance: 2m 4f; Class: 1; Eligibility: 5YO plus; Going: Good (Good to Soft in places, National: Good to Soft, Good in places).
Betfred Melling Chase (Grade 1)
| Place | No (Draw) | Silks | Beaten Distance | Horse | Form/Age | Last Run | Jockey | Trainer/Owner | SP | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | 6 | - | Don Cossack (GER) (gelding, brown, 11 10) | 4-11113 / 9 | Jump (29) | A P McCoy | G Elliott Gigginstown House… | 3/1 | ||
| tracked leading pair, went 2nd at 8th, challenged 5 out, led 3 out, drew readily clear from 2 out, driven out, comfortably | ||||||||||
| 2nd | 5 | 26 L | Cue Card (GB) (gelding, bay, 11 10) | 312-445 / 12 | Jump (105) | D A Jacob | C L Tizzard Mrs Jean R Bishop | 6/1 | ||
| led, joined 5 out, headed when mistake 3 out, soon ridden, one pace next, no chance with winner after | ||||||||||
| 3rd | 7 | 4½ L | Johns Spirit (IRE) (gelding, bay, 11 10) | 40-1265 / 9 | Jump (29) | R P McLernon | J & A O'Neill Mr Christopher… | 16/1 | ||
| held up in touch, ridden to chase leading pair after 4 out, kept on same pace from 2 out, no chance with winner | ||||||||||
| 4th | 3 | 1¾ L | Champagne Fever (IRE) (gelding, grey, 11 10) | 2-614F1 / 9 | Jump (55) | Ruby Walsh | W P Mullins Mrs S Ricci | 3/1 | ||
| tracked leaders in 4th, switched outside approaching 4 out, in touch when blundered next, soon one pace, no chance with leaders after | ||||||||||
| 5th | 1 | 3¾ L | Al Ferof (IRE) (gelding, grey, 11 10) | 1325-13 / 11 | Jump (105) | Sam Twiston-Davies | P F Nicholls J Hales | 11/2 | ||
| tracked leader to 8th, in touch, ridden and outpaced before 4 out, weakened 2 out | ||||||||||
| 6th | 8 | 9 L | Simply Ned (IRE) (gelding, chestnut, 11 10) | 32-1235 / 13 | Jump (30) | Brian Harding | N G Richards David & Nicky Robinson | 25/1 | ||
| held up behind, chased leaders 4 out, outpaced next, plugged on from 2 out, never on terms | ||||||||||
| 7th | 10 | 30 L | Wishfull Thinking (GB) (gelding, chestnut, 11 10) | 8-131PP / 13 | Jump (29) | R Johnson | P Hobbs & J White Mrs Diana L Whateley | 25/1 | ||
| chased leaders, blundered 2nd, lost place when blundered 11th, weakened 4 out, tailed off | ||||||||||
| PU | 4 | - | Croco Bay (IRE) (gelding, bay, 11 10) | 336133 / 13 | Jump (28) | Kielan Woods | B I Case Lady Jane Grosvenor | |||
| FE | 2 | - | Balder Succes (FR) (gelding, bay, 11 10) | 242117 / 7 | Flat (564), Jump (29) | Wayne Hutchinson | A King Masterson Holdings… | |||
| FE | 9 | - | Sire De Grugy (FR) (gelding, chestnut, 11 10) | 111-U14 / 11 | Jump (30) | Joshua Moore | G & J Moore Theprestonfamily&Friendsltd/mrg… | |||
