Grand National 2024 Day Two: Protektorat can win the Melling Chase on Ladies Day

Cheltenham Festival winner PROTEKTORAT can double up in the My Pension Melling Chase (GBB Race) (3.30pm) on day two of the 2024 Randox Grand National Festival at Aintree Racecourse.

With the battle for the trainers' championship raging Dan Skelton can strike a blow against his former boss and current title holder Paul Nicholls with Protektorat landing the big pot for the Grade One feature of the opening day at Aintree.

Skelton’s nine-year-old is a high-class chaser on his day and having reverted back to 2m4½f at Cheltenham in soft conditions, he returned to form to land a first win in almost 18 months. A winner over this course and distance as a novice in the Manifesto Novices’ Chase back in April 2021, he has won again at the track in the Grade Two Many Clouds Chase and also in the 2022 Betfair Chase at Haydock Park. Having been third and fifth in the Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup connections dropped him back in trip for three runs this year and following a second and third at Lingfield and Newbury, Protektorat scored superbly beating the reopposing Envoi Allen in the Ryanair by four lengths. Being back to form on a track, trip and going he has proven very effective on, Protektorat can triumph again ahead of some very smart rivals.

Nicky Henderson’s Jonbon steps up to 2m4f for the first time and if he can cut out some jumping errors should go close. Last year’s Pic D’Orhy – for the title-chasing Nicholls’ stable – should be in the mix again and the aforementioned Henry De Bromhead-trained Envoi Allen is another with the ability to win. But it may be that Protektorat can keep them all at bay and land another Aintree victory.

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HEART WOOD can win the opener on Ladies Day, the Huyton Asphalt Franny Blennerhasset Memorial Mildmany Novices’ Chase (GBB Race) (1.45pm). Henry De Bromhead’s improving six-year-old was second on his first three starts over fences having been recruited from France. But under Rachael Blackmore, Heart Wood was an impressive winner of the O’Driscolls Irish Whiskey Leopardstown Handicap Chase at the Dublin Racing Festival. He bypassed Cheltenham to wait for Aintree. He can take the step up to Grade One company and trip to an extended three miles in his stride to triumph ahead of chiefly fellow Irish raider, the Gavin Cromwell-trained Inothewayurthinking, and Ultima Handicap Chase hero Chianti Classico.

In the second race over the Grand National fences of the meeting, the Randox Supports Race Against Dementia Topham Chase (4.05pm) with original selection Lounge Lizard now a non-runner, THE EDGAR WALLACE can triumph. Kim Bailey-trained nine-year-old has been in fine form this season, winning twice and finishing runner-up twice. If he takes to the Grand National fences he can go well at big odds. There are plenty of dangers to the selection including last year’s winner Bill Baxter, the Paul Nicholls-trained Kandoo Kid and Ben Pauling's Cheltenham Festival scorer Shakem Up’Arry, who is owned by former West Ham United and Tottenham Hotspur manager Harry Redknapp.

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Willie Mullins’ MYSTICAL POWER can go one better than at Cheltenham with victory in the TrustATrader Top Novices’ Hurdle (GBB Race) (2.55pm). The five-year-old gelded son of Galileo won his first two starts over hurdles at Galway and Punchestown before running a fine race to be second to Slade Steel in the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle at Cheltenham last month. On that form, Mystical Power may be hard to beat.

With original selection, the Mullins-trained Readin Tommy Wrong, now a non-runner Nicky Henderson's SHANAGH BOB – who missed the Cheltenham Festival – can win the Grade One Cavani Sartorial Menswear Sefton Novices’ Hurdle (GBB Race) (4.40pm).

MAKING HEADWAY, from the Cheshire stable of Oliver Greenall and Josh Guerrieo, can win the William Hill Hurdle (Premier Hurdle) (GBB Race) (2.20pm). The six-year-old has won twice this season, both in heavy conditions, at Carlisle and Newbury. On his most recent start in February he was fourth to the reopposing Go Dante in the Imperial Hurdle at Sandown last month and on revised terms he can reverse that form to triumph.

Dan Skelton’s SKYCUTTER can take the finale on day two, the Lydiate Handicap Hurdle (Conditional Jockeys’ And Amateur Riders’ Race ) (GBB Race) (5.15pm). The six-year-old former decent Flat handicapper has won once and been placed twice over hurdles since switching to the Skelton stable from Philip Kirby in November 2022. He was also third at Kelso on his most recent start and may give his trainer a few more quid in prize-money in his chase for the title.

Wright Ones

AINTREE (DAY TWO)

1.45pm Heart Wood
2.20pm Making Headway
2.55pm Mystical Power
3.30pm Protektorat
4.05pm The Edgar Wallace (NAP)
4.40pm Shanagh Bob
5.15pm Skycutter

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