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Battle for Melling favouritismÂ
A field of eight runners has assembled for the Melling Chase on day two and former Queen Mother Champion Chaser Politologue is the class act among them. He is a former winner of this race in 2018 and also finished second to Min a year later. The grey just about edges 11/4 favouritism from Irish raider Fakir Dâoudairies â second in last monthâs Ryanair Chase at Cheltenham behind Allaho.
Behind them is Ascot specialist Dashel Drasher for trainer Jeremy Scott, who got the better of the reopposing Master Tommytucker at the Berkshire venue in February in a Grade 1. Nus Well and Notebook may also be single-figure prices in an open renewal of this race, while Itchy Feet and Duc Des Genievres have it all to prove on recent form.
The Leader Newspaper
By Andrew Atkinson Exclusive
Cheltenham Triumph Hurdle 1995 winner Kissair and 2000 Arkle winner Tiutchev, bred by Mrs D M Rothschild, continue to spend happy lives in retirement with Nikki Atkinson.
“Rabbit (Kissair) was 30 on March 7, having been gifted to me in 1999, a couple of months after my sister died of cancer,” Nikki told me, ahead of the 2021 Cheltenham Festival.
“I was extremely sad, depressed and felt like my world had imploded,” said Teacher/Equestrian manager Nikki.
Kissair, trained by Martin Pipe, won the Triumph Hurdle in 1999, when beating Silver Wedge. He last raced in 2000 at Garthorpe, aged 9, when under trainer Nicky Henderson.