JCB Melling Chase |
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| Grade 1, Aintree 15:30 £250,000 guaranteed, 5yo plus, 2m 3f 200y, Class 1  |
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1 Grey Dawning 5/1
2 Solness
8/1
3 Heart Wood 6/5F
7 ran Distances: nk, 11l, 6l
Time: 4m 50.60s (fast by 1.40s)
Grey Dawning - Melling hero 🏆 pic.twitter.com/SumQHM0Qcg
— Racing TV (@RacingTV) April 10, 2026
Grey Dawning proved that a change of scenery – and distance – can be just the ticket, as he dug deep to deny the admirable front-runner Solness in a thoroughly absorbing renewal.
As expected, Solness, stepping up from the minimum trip, was quickly into his stride at the head of affairs. Always happiest bowling along in front, he shared the early running with Gidleigh Park before asserting more control down the back, stretching a couple of lengths clear and setting a searching tempo.
In behind, however, the race was developing nicely for Grey Dawning. Dropped back in trip after his gallant fourth in the Cheltenham Gold Cup, he travelled with real purpose throughout, jumping fluently and always within striking distance as the tempo lifted.
Turning for home, the race began to take shape. Harry Skelton edged closer, and with two to jump, Grey Dawning loomed alongside. He took over approaching the last and landed in front, but Solness, to his immense credit, was far from finished. The response was immediate and wholehearted, and what followed was a proper battle up the run-in.
In the end, it was Grey Dawning’s stamina – sharpened rather than dulled by the drop in trip – that told, as he edged ahead close home to prevail by a neck in a duel that never lacked for quality or courage.
Dan Skelton was clear in both his thinking and his satisfaction afterwards, explaining the tactical shift that made the difference. “I was always going to come to this. What we were doing we were doing well at, but we weren’t quite winning, so you have to change things and try something different.
“We turned for home in a Gold Cup second and couldn’t quite win it, so we then had to start boxing clever and we felt dropping back in trip was the right thing to do.
“We didn’t put the cheekpieces on because he’s ungenuine, they were just a little something extra over this trip – you might as well have them and not need them than need them and not have them.
“We felt he’d really see out the trip, which he needed to. You saw two great horses having a right good go and all credit to Solness – being in front the whole way, what a horse to put in a run like that.
“It was our day in the end and it’s a great outcome for a phenomenal owner (Robert Kirkland). He’s been through the mill a bit, unfortunately his wife died a couple of weeks ago. He’s a very patient man, everyone deserves their go sometimes and he’s had his go.
“He’s been a great horse and he knows how to dance the big dances now. We’re not quite good enough to win a Gold Cup, but we can dance some other dances.”
There was no sense of defeat in the Solness camp, merely pride. Jockey J J Slevin reflected on a performance full of bravery and resolve. “It was a great run, Joseph brought him here in great shape.
“I knew he’d keep fighting and he did in fairness, but the winner is a good horse.
“He’s a very good horse on his day.”
Heart Wood, sent off favourite after his Ryanair Chase success, found things happening a shade too quickly in third, though he finished with purpose once the race had gone. Henry de Bromhead offered a measured assessment. “I’d say it it all just happened a bit quick over a furlong shorter on a sharper track.
“He’s probably always been more of two-and-a-half to three-miler than a two to two-and-a-half horse, but he stayed on really well.
“We’ll go to Down Royal over three miles early next season and we’ll investigate that now. He’s had a fantastic year, we’d obviously love to win but he’s had a great season.”
JPR One, meanwhile, ran his usual honest race in fourth, and Jo Tizzard was keen to emphasise his consistency at the top level. “He’s run another great race but he just comes up a bit shy in Grade Ones.
“He’s had a great season, it’s unfair to call him a fun horse really because he’s better than that.
“He’s rated 160 though, which is a lot of weight in handicaps.”
JCB Melling Chase
£250,000 guaranteed, 5yo plus, 2m 3f 200y, Class 1
7 ran
Going: Good to Soft, Good in places
Melling Chase - Previous Winners
2025 Jonbon
2024 Jonbon
2023 Pic D'Orhy
2022 Fakir D'Oudairies
2021 Fakir D'Oudairies
2020 ABANDONED due to Covid-19
2019 Min
2018 Politologue
2017 Fox Norton
2016 God's Own
2015 Don Cossack
2014 Boston Bob
2013 Sprinter Sacre Caroline Mould Nicky Henderson 07-11-10 Barry Geraghty 1/3F
2012 Finian’s Rainbow Michael Buckley Nicky Henderson 09-11-10 Barry Geraghty 13/8F
2011 Master Minded Clive Smith Paul Nicholls 08-11-10 Ruby Walsh 11/2
