ONLY four may line up for today's Mumm Melling Chase at Aintree but quantity is an irrelevance when a quartet presents as much quality as this. The first three from the thrilling Queen Mother Champion Chase at Cheltenham, as well as the beaten favourite on that occasion, is the sort of field to set the pulse of even racing's coldest accelerating.
Martha's Son was having only his second start in two years when he popped up at Cheltenham butt there was no semblance of fluke about that victory.
Admittedly, Strong Promise, Ask Tom and Viking Flagship did to an extent, cut each other's throats with the early pace. They set themselves up perfectly for Martha's Son's devastating final kick, but there was the unmistakable stamp of quality about that kick
Rodney Farrant produced him at the last between Viking Flagship and Ask Tom to win by two and a half lengths, and while Farrant misses today's race through injury, Carl Llewellyn is a competent replacement.
Strong Performance pulled his way to defeat at Cheltenham, and when he made a mistake at the third last, his chance evaporated. Over today's extra distance and on this fast ground, he will be a danger but Martha's Son is a fresh animal and that can make all the difference here.
Irish representation is thin on the ground on this, the second day, with Private Peace going in the Belle Epoque Sefton Novices' Hurdle and Liss De Paor and Nicola Marie flying the flag in the opener. Private Peace is a talented novice but, hut his win at Punchestown looked to confirm his liking for cut in the ground and he won't get that here.
In such a competitive race as this, that may prove impossible to overcome, and Jim Old's Yahmi is proposed as a value alternative. Yahmi's last two races have been in handicaps, after two novice successes, and he has acquitted himself well both times.
A second to Tullymurry Toff at Sandown was followed by a similar placing to Pharanear in Cheltenham's Gold Card Final. That proved Vahmi goes on fast ground, and back in novice company he can use that experience to full effect.
Nicola Marie could only manage an eighth of 12 in a Tipperary maiden hurdle last time out which leaves Liss De Paor as the likely best of the Irish in the Martell Mersey Novices Hurdle. This looks a particularly hot novices' race, though, with the Champion Hurdle sixth, Sanmartino, topping the weights and the unexposed Marello right behind him.
Mary Reveley has always thought the world of Marello unbeaten and unextended in four races this season, and significantly bypassed Cheltenham to wait for this. Sanmartino, in contrast, had a hard race at Cheltenham and, although on the figures he comes out well ahead, the effects of Cheltenham should intake the untapped potential of Marello a better betting proposition.
Cheltenham may have also left its mark on Cyborgo, but the Martin Pipe-trained horse is still impossible to oppose in the Mumm Mildmay Novices' Chase. Cyborgo was hampered by the ground when only eighth in the Gold Cup, and while he would like it softer today, there is no Mr Mulligan or Dorans Pride against him here.
Judicious Captain and Chopwell Curtains will relish the going but surely not enough to beat Cyborgo, who can be the highlight a good day for Pipe. Pipe can also take the Oddbins Handicap Hurdle with Allegation, who was only just touched off by stable companion Big Strand in Cheltenham's Coral Cup. Paul Carberry is scheduled to return from injury and ride Frickley in this, but Allegation can spoil a winning comeback.
Unguided Missile could find top weight too much for him in the Perrier Jouet Handicap Chase, so if Pipe's All For Luck can come on enough from his fourth in the Kim Muir as much as he should, then he can repeat his victory in this race last year.
