The Melling Chase is a Grade 1 National Hunt steeplechase in Great Britain which is open to horses aged five years or older. It is run at Aintree over a distance of about 2 miles and 4 furlongs (4,023 metres), and during its running there are sixteen fences to be jumped. The race is scheduled to take place each year in early April.
The event is named after Melling, a nearby village which is made famous by Melling Road, a public road which crosses the racecourse. It was established in 1991, and it has held Grade 1 status throughout its history. The race is currently staged on the second day of the three-day Grand National meeting.
The field often includes horses which ran in the Queen Mother Champion Chase or the Ryanair Chase at the previous month's Cheltenham Festival.
Records Most successful horse (2 wins): Viking Flagship – 1995, 1996 Direct Route – 1999, 2000 Native Upmanship – 2002, 2003 Moscow Flyer – 2004, 2005 Voy Por Ustedes – 2008, 2009 Fakir D'oudairies - 2021, 2022 Jonbon - 2024, 2025
Leading jockey (4 wins): Barry Geraghty – Moscow Flyer (2004, 2005), Finian's Rainbow (2012), Sprinter Sacre (2013)
Leading trainer (5 wins): Nicky Henderson - Remittance Man (1992), Finian's Rainbow (2012), Sprinter Sacre (2013), Jonbon (2024, 2025)
Winners Year Winner Age Jockey Trainer 1991 Blazing Walker 7 Chris Grant Arthur Stephenson 1992 Remittance Man 8 Richard Dunwoody Nicky Henderson 1993 Deep Sensation 8 Declan Murphy Josh Gifford 1994 Katabatic 11 Simon McNeill Josh Gifford 1995 Viking Flagship 8 Adrian Maguire David Nicholson 1996 Viking Flagship 9 Tony McCoy David Nicholson 1997 Martha's Son 10 Carl Llewellyn Tim Forster 1998 Opera Hat 10 Conor O'Dwyer John Fowler 1999 Direct Route 8 Norman Williamson Howard Johnson 2000 Direct Route 9 Norman Williamson Howard Johnson 2001 Fadalko 8 Ruby Walsh Paul Nicholls 2002 Native Upmanship 9 Conor O'Dwyer Arthur Moore 2003 Native Upmanship 10 Conor O'Dwyer Arthur Moore 2004 Moscow Flyer 10 Barry Geraghty Jessica Harrington 2005 Moscow Flyer 11 Barry Geraghty Jessica Harrington 2006 Hi Cloy 9 Andrew McNamara Michael Hourigan 2007 Monet's Garden 9 Tony Dobbin Nicky Richards 2008 Voy Por Ustedes 7 Robert Thornton Alan King 2009 Voy Por Ustedes 8 Robert Thornton Alan King 2010 Albertas Run 9 Tony McCoy Jonjo O'Neill 2011 Master Minded 8 Ruby Walsh Paul Nicholls 2012 Finian's Rainbow 9 Barry Geraghty Nicky Henderson 2013 Sprinter Sacre 7 Barry Geraghty Nicky Henderson 2014 Boston Bob 9 Paul Townend Willie Mullins 2015 Don Cossack 8 Tony McCoy Gordon Elliott 2016 God's Own 8 Paddy Brennan Tom George 2017 Fox Norton 7 Robbie Power Colin Tizzard 2018 Politologue 7 Sam Twiston-Davies Paul Nicholls 2019 Min 8 Ruby Walsh Willie Mullins no race 2020 2021 Fakir D'oudairies 6 Mark Walsh Joseph O'Brien 2022 Fakir D'oudairies 7 Mark Walsh Joseph O'Brien 2023 Pic D'Orhy 8 Harry Cobden Paul Nicholls 2024 Jonbon 8 Nico de Boinville Nicky Henderson 2025 Jonbon 9 Nico de Boinville Nicky Henderson 2026 Grey Dawning 9 Harry Skelton Dan Skelton
See also Horse racing in Great Britain List of British National Hunt races
References
Racing Post: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
aintree.co.uk – 2010 John Smith's Grand National Media Guide. pedigreequery.com – Melling Chase – Aintree.
External links Race Recordings (1991-2004) youtube.com