15:30
JCB Melling Chase (Grade 1) (GBB Race)
Grade 1, Class 1, 2m4f, Chase, 5yo+, 7 runners
Winning time 4m 50.60s
- Going
- Good To Soft
- Surface
- Turf
- Jumps
- 16 fences
Result
Harry Skelton
Dan Skelton
Settled midfield early - closed on the front group after the 6th - shared second spot by the 11th - upsides the front-runner after three out - driven forward before two out - edged in front near the last - battled to the line and prevailed by a whisker
J J Slevin
Joseph Patrick O'Brien
Went straight to front - clipped fourth fence - rival closed in after three out - pushed along two out - edged in front close to last - battled back gamely but denied by a short margin at the line
Darragh O'Keeffe
Henry De Bromhead
Settled midpack early - made ground into contention before 4 out - hit the fence 3 out while urged into fourth - driven after 2 out in pursuit of the leading two but unable to threaten - held on for third
Brendan Powell
Joe Tizzard
Tracked the front group early - shared second spot approaching the 11th before losing touch after three out - dropped away over the final two furlongs
Bryan Carver
Harry Fry
Settled close up in second early - dropped back around the 11th and needed urging before 4 out - faded from 2 out to finish well beaten
Ciaran Gethings
Jane Williams
Settled towards the back early - clipped the 7th awkwardly - dropped away from the pack 4 out - eased and pulled up before 2 out
Tristan Durrell
Dan Skelton
Settled towards the back - urged into effort but finding little four out - eased and withdrawn before two out
Draw in brackets. Headgear: b blinkers, v visor, h hood, t tongue strap, p cheekpieces, e/s eye shield; ¹ first time. C course winner, D distance winner, CD course and distance winner. Form reads oldest to newest.