God’s Own to land Aintree double

GOD’S OWN can make it back-to-back victories for Tom George in the JLT Melling Chase, the feature event on day two of the Grand National meeting.

The nine-year-old comfortably disposed of Al Ferof in this Grade One event 12 months ago and he has enjoyed a similar prep this term.

George is no fool and knows there is little point in ploughing away with this one in the deep winter months as he really does seem to put his best foot forward when conditions are on the quicker side.

God’s Own managed to squeeze in three runs before Christmas, with his one-and-a-quarter-length third to Un De Sceaux in the Tingle Creek the undoubted highlight of those outings, before taking a break while the mud was flying.

Reappearing in the Queen Mother Champion Chase, God’s Own looked about to take a real hand in the finish before he made a mess of the second-last and was found wanting up the hill.

Who is to say what would have happened but for that mistake, but God’s Own is known as a spring performer and should be capable of turning the Cheltenham form around with both second Fox Norton and fourth Top Gamble, particularly as this extra half-mile is right up his street.

Road To Respect can show the way home in the Betway Mildmay Novices’ Chase after bypassing an engagement in Thursday’s Manifesto Chase.

He landed the two-mile-five-furlong Brown Advisory & Merriebelle Stable Plate Handicap Chase at the Festival in fine style, breezing home by six lengths in what is supposed to be one of the most competitive heats of the year.

Noel Meade’s runner clearly faces some fine rivals at Aintree, but having turned in a couple of decent shows at the highest level earlier in the campaign, Grade One level is certainly not beyond him.

The switch up to three miles and a furlong is not certain to suit, but the nature of the track should give him every chance.

River Wylde can follow in the hoofprints of illustrious stablemate Buveur D’Air by winning the Crabbie’s Top Novices’ Hurdle.

Buveur D’Air finished third in last year’s Supreme before taking this Grade One event and River Wylde is out to emulate that result for Nicky Henderson.

River Wylde was soundly beaten by Labaik at Cheltenham but he kicked for home plenty early enough and perhaps the Cheltenham hill was his real undoing as he clouted the last and only just held on for minor honours.

A flatter track like this should play to his strengths and compensation surely awaits for this admirable type.

Henderson can also hit the mark with Fixe Le Kap in the opening Alder Hey Children’s Charity Handicap Hurdle. TOOLATETODELEGATE (27) B Barr 9-9 ....... Joshua Bryan (7) SWAN SERENADE (207) J Portman 9-7 ................ G Wood (5) A BIT OF GINGER (185) Mrs A Duffield 9-7 ................... S Gray NOREENA (27) P D’Arcy 9-6 ...................................... J Haynes HOW’S LUCY (120) J Chapple-Hyam 9-5 (BF) ...... Danny Brock REY LOOPY (34) B Haslam 9-4 ................................... L Morris FLEETING FRANCESCA (165) C Gordon 9-4 .............. D O’Neill MELO MAGIC (17) J R Jenkins 9-4 ................ Gina Mangan (7) EPSOM SECRET (228) P Phelan 9-3 ................... P Bradley (5) LES ARCEAUX (277) J P Murtagh (IRE) 9-1 .............. D Probert WHATALOVE (9) M Keighley 8-12 ............................ T Queally ZIPEDEE (111) J Ryan 8-12 ........................ Josephine Gordon BETTING: 11-4 Whatalove, 11-2 Les Arceaux, 6 Rey Loopy, 7 How’s Lucy, 8 Fleeting Francesca, 10 Toolatetodelegate, 12 Epsom Secret, Noreena, 14 Others. (165) R Hughes 9-8 ........................ Finley Marsh (7) (69) R Hannon 9-7 (BF) ....................... S Levey (9) S Hodgson 9-7 ........... Rob Hornby (156) W G M Turner 9-6 .......... R While (5) (13) Barry J Murphy (IRE) 9-4 ..... Josephine Gordon (63) J Long 9-4 ......................... S Hitchcott (42) R J Smith 9-4 (D) .................. R Tate (211) B Millman 9-3 ........................ D Muscutt (165) W Kittow 9-1 .......................... T Durcan (9) J Best 9-0 ................................................. K Fox (244) S Dow 8-12 ................................. J F Egan BETTING: 3 Fast Kar, 7-2 Metronomic, 4 Masquerade Bling, 7 Skilful Lord, 10 Joshlee, Pentito Rap, 14 Luxford, 20 Secret Willow, Crucial Moment, Myredbush, 25 London Grammar. LUNAR DEITY (55) S C Williams 8 9-7 (CD) ....... Milly Naseb (7) CAPE ICON (216)CCox69-7(CD) .......................... SHitchcott LACAN (9) B Johnson 6 9-7 (CD) .................................. L Morris GOLDEN RAVEN (313) J Osborne 5 9-7 (D2) ............ D Costello NEW AGENDA (106) P Webber 5 9-4 ......................... D O’Neill HAMMER GUN (9) D Shaw 4 9-3 (D2) ................. Martin Lane CAPE BANJO (155) R Beckett 4 9-1 (D) ......... P C O’Donnell (5) KESTREL DOT COM (18) C Dwyer 5 9-1 ................... D Probert BELIEVE IT (30) R Hughes 5 8-10 (CD2)...Stephen Cummins (7) ROCK’N GOLD (13) A Wintle 4 8-10 ......................... Joe Doyle ZABEEL STAR G McPherson 5 8-9 (C, D) ..................... L Keniry BETTING: 11-4 Hammer Gun, 4 Cape Banjo, 6 Believe It, 7 New Agenda, 8 Golden Raven, 10 Cape Icon, 12 Lunar Deity, 14 Zabeel Star, 16 Others. AIRSHOW B Millman 9-2 ............................................. R Tate BUNCH OF THYME W G M Turner 9-2 ................... R While (5) JEDI MASTER R Fahey 9-2 ................................... P Hanagan KICK ON KICK ON C Cox 9-2 ....................................... A Kirby MANCO INCA J Tuite 9-2 .................................. Oisin Murphy POIGNANT Archie Watson 9-2 ................................ J Mitchell ROCKESBURY Kevin Frost 9-2 ............................... D Costello SHOVEL IT ON P Evans 9-2 ................................ Danny Brock STRAIGHT ASH R Hannon 9-2 ........................... T Marquand ZAIN FLASH P Evans 9-2 ........................................... J F Egan BETTING: 3 Straight Ash, 4 Jedi Master, 9-2 Kick On Kick On, 7 Poignant, Bunch Of Thyme, 8 Zain Flash, 14 Airshow, 16 Shovel It On, 20 Others. (7) J Tuite 9-0 .............. Oisin Murphy (16) R Hannon 9-0 ........................ T Marquand (213) A Carroll 9-0 ................................... Doubtful (28) A Carroll 9-0 ............................... G Downing (24) R Guest 8-9 ......... Hollie Doyle (3) (18) H Spiller 8-9 ...................................... K O’Neill (41) D Elsworth 8-9 ..................... T Clark (3) (42) J S Moore 8-9 ....................... G Dobie (7) (13) P Evans 8-9 ............................... J F Egan (155) M Quinn 8-9 .............................. L Morris (17) C Smith 8-9 ............... Ben Robinson (7) BETTING: 11-4 Jet Setter, 7-2 Lady Volante, 4 Endeavour, 5 Dontforgettocall, 12 Joyful Dream, Ivor’s Fantasy, 16 Irish Sky, 20 Newz Watch, Champagne Queen, 50 Others. (253) C Appleby 4 9-6 .......................... W Buick (197) Mrs M Hambro 6 9-4 (D) .... Oisin Murphy A King 4 9-4 ...................... D Sweeney (609) R Beckett 5 9-4 ........................... F M Berry (239) M Johnston 4 9-1 (D) ..................... J Fanning D Pipe 7 9-1 ............................... P Cosgrave (36) M Appleby 5 9-0 (D) ........... S De Sousa (21) Mike Murphy 5 8-13 ..................... J Crowley (16) B Ellison 9 8-7 ............................... B A Curtis (163) Miss J Feilden 5 8-7 (D) ..Shelley Birkett (3) BETTING: 3 Carrington, 7-2 Mr Cripps, 5 Faithful Creek, 6 Rainbow Dreamer, 7 Galapiat, 10 Tobacco Road, 14 Zamperini, 16 Primogeniture, 20 Others.