3 minute read
Queen Mother Champion Chase hero Altior tops 13 entries for the JLT Melling Chase at Aintree on Friday.
Trainer Nicky Henderson could step the brilliant two-miler up in trip for this Grade One over two and a half miles, but he does have the option of going to Punchestown or Sandown later in the month.
Altior took his 100 per cent record over jumps to 13 with victory at Cheltenham last month.
Henderson has two other possibles in L'Ami Serge and Top Notch.
The two-pronged Irish challenge comprises the Willie Mullins-trained Min, who was runner-up to Altior in the Champion Chase, and Henry de Bromhead's Balko Des Flos, winner of the Ryanair Chase.
Paul Nicholls is three-handed with Ryanair fifth Frodon, Grand Annual victor Le Prezien and Champion Chase fourth Politologue.
Cloudy Dream, Forest Bihan, King's Socks, Sizing Granite and Flying Angel complete the list, though the latter also holds an entry in the Randox Health Topham Handicap Chase on the same card.
The Henderson-trained Apple's Shakira could bid for redemption in the Betway Top Novices' Hurdle after she finished only fourth when hot favourite for the Triumph Hurdle.
Apple's Shakira is also engaged in the Doom Bar Anniversary 4-Y-O Juvenile Hurdle on Thursday.
Henderson also has Claimantakinforgan , Style De Garde and Whatswrongwithyou in a 25-strong entry.
De Bromhead has three possibles in Mind's Eye, Ornua and Trainwreck, while Jessica Harrington's Impact Factor is the other Irish-trained entry.
Prolific winner Black Corton, from the Nicholls yard, is among 14 entries for the Betway Mildway Novices' Chase.
The Henderson team relies upon JLT Novices' Chase second Terrefort, Nick Williams has put in Ultima Handicap Chase scorer Coo Star Sivola, while Colin Tizzard has Elegant Escape and Finian's Oscar.
Noel Meade's Snow Falcon is the sole Irish entry.
The Henderson pair of Ok Corral and Santini, who were second and third respectively in the Albert Bartlett at Cheltenham, are among 25 entries for the Doom Bar Sefton Novices' Hurdle.
Joseph O'Brien's Tower Bridge, fifth in that Cheltenham heat, is the only Irish representative.
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