Monet's Garden can bloom in Melling Chase
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A record of four wins and a second from just eight starts proves that Monet's Garden is a class act around Aintree. Nicky Richards, his trainer, has learned what it takes to keep this 12-year-old in the top company as he proved when he won the Betfair Ascot Chase in February, where he beat Albertas Run by one-and-a-half lengths with Oh Crick a well-beaten fourth.
Monet's Garden looked as good as ever when winning the Old Roan Chase at Aintree for a second time in October, and his disappointing run behind Albertas Run at Ascot the following month could be put down to the race coming too soon. That is why Monet's Garden was not sent to the Cheltenham Festival, a meeting that has never seen him at his best. But today’s Grade One John Smith's Melling Chase offers a combination of going, track and distance which should play to Monet's Garden’s strengths.
Albertas Run went on to win the Ryanair Chase at the Cheltenham Festival, where he had Poquelin four-and-a-half lengths behind in second. It was another five back to Deep Purple, 20 more to Jack The Giant with the veteran Schindlers Hunt unseating his rider; and none of them look capable of posing a realistic challenge on that form. The main threat appears to come from those who are stepping up from two miles and on form there is very little to separate Forpadydeplasterer and Kalahari King.
Forpadydeplasterer has had the edge thus far, beating Kalahari King by a short-head in last year's Arkle Trophy at Cheltenham and coming home three-and-a-quarter lengths to the good in this year's Queen Mother Champion Chase, when the pair chased home Big Zeb. However, Forpadydeplasterer's victories have all come on slower ground than he will encounter here so Kalahari King may prove the biggest danger.
Ogee won over hurdles on this card last year and his run in the William Hill Trophy at Cheltenham last month gives him a fine chance in the matalan.co.uk Mildmay Novices' Chase. Ogee finished four lengths ahead of Offshore Account, who ran well until his stamina limitations were exposed in last year's Grand National, but who should be well suited by the shorter trip in the John Smith's Topham Chase.
The first day of the meeting showed that horses who ran well at Cheltenham cannot be guaranteed to reproduce that form again so soon after. Menorah had a hard-fought victory in the Supreme Novices' Hurdle and may struggle to match Escort'men in the John Smith's Top Novices' Hurdle. Escort'men, fell at the first on his debut run for Paul Nicholls, at Taunton, but showed what he could do when winning next time out in a Grade Two hurdle at Kempton Park in February, where he beat a pair of 130+-rated horses by 14 lengths. The recent form of Double Expresso looks enough to give him a chance in the John Smith´s Sefton Novices´ Hurdle.
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