Friday is Ladies' Day at Aintree; the highlight is the John Smith's Melling Chase at 3.10, run over two and a half miles. Voy Por Ustedes won this last year, is a short-priced favourite, top-rated horse and the most likely winner but he didn't jump well at Cheltenham three weeks ago so, on grounds of value, I'm going to look elsewhere. On official ratings there isn't much between Nacarat and Tidal Bay. Nacarat won the Racing Post Chase over three miles at Kempton in impressive fashion; immediately after that race trainer Tom George insisted his charge needed a right-handed track (even though the horse had won at Doncaster previously). The shorter trip and left-handed track here don't look ideal so I'll chance Howard Johnson's Tidal Bay who has had plenty of schooling for his reported jumping issues but still appeared to run a little below par behind Imperial Commander and Voy Por Ustedes at Cheltenham. Those looking for an each-way runner at a price could do worse than take a second look at Andrew Balding's Braireus.
I side with Herecomesthetruth in the 2.35 while American Trilogy is the top-rated animal in the opener and gets the vote.
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Tidal Bay (4/1) looked the part beforehand, jumping and travelling well on the first circuit, but he was badly outpaced down the back straight on the second occasion; his chance had gone before the cross fence and he stayed on to finish a remote fifth. A puzzling performance, similar to the race he ran at Cheltenham, that left me wondering whether this trip is too sharp for him now. A thrilling finish with Voy Por Ustedes (11/8f) sticking gamely to the task to beat Schindler's Hunt a head with Nacarat (4/1) a further four and a half lengths behind in third.
Nobody wanted Herecomesthetruth (3/1f) on the track and you could see why - the horse was really buzzed up and went to post pulling for his head. He made a bad error at the sixth, reaching and attempting to jump the obstacle from far too far out - Ruby just stayed in the saddle and although the horse returned to lead after that mistake he was a a spent force before the turn for home and was pulled up. Killyglen (7/1) collected the spoils.
American Trilogy (11/4f) led approaching the last but was mugged near the line by the fast finishing El Dancer (14/1). That's racing!
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