Ryanair Chase 2021

[Lobos]

Stubborn you mean ?

Lol !! Love it.

[Saxon Warrior]

Duplicated- see below.

[Saxon Warrior]

I watched back the Marsh Novice Chase 2020 last night, and was amazed with how well MELON jumped from the front, he was like the proverbial cat.

He was one of the less exposed chasers in the race, with only 3 runs, all over 2M-ish, and he seemed to love jumping the Cheltenham, and the increase in trip.

He stayed on all the way to the line, probably in-front - where it didn't matter - a length after the line.

However, strangely, the Ryanair is over 1/2F further than the Marsh, despite them being on the same track, on the same day, and an extra 1/2F seemed all Melon would have needed to get his head back in front in the Marsh, so......maybe......that extra 110 yards will help him next March.

Having been runner-up at the Fez for 4 years, the Marsh, was a first go there over a mid-trip and he looked to thrive on it, being raised 7lb for the z
Marsh run to an OR of 158.

His Novice Chase 2M form got him an OR of 151, pre-Festival, giving Fakir D 8lbs and beaten 3L on debut.

Then a win, with the decent novice (still) Gallant John Joe behind before a 3rd behind Cash Back and Notebook at the DRF vehicle did nothing for those two (with regard to the Festival) but Melon seems to have benefited from that Grade 1 Novice Chase experience.

He is 20/1 for the Ryanair (BF/PP) which looks a bit out-of-line with Samcro and Allaho, and with his owner having Al Boum for the Gold Cup it looks like a Ryanair run could be in his headlights.

Invested 1pt at 20/1 that he can win it.
He has a similar profile to Min, bridesmaid at Multiple Festivals and I'm hoping he can follow his stablemate and be the "bride" as a 9yo in next year's Ryanair.

[Kevloaf]

The proverbial cat, jumps high from a standing start - so I hope Melon jumps more like a Grade 1 racehorse



I'm surprised given what you've said that you wouldn't consider Melon an each way bet?

[Saxon Warrior]

The proverbial cat, jumps high from a standing start - so I hope Melon jumps more like a Grade 1 racehorse



I'm surprised given what you've said that you wouldn't consider Melon an each way bet?

Melon is the first to go so close in the Marsh on his mid-trip chase debut since Noble Prince won in 2011, none since have stayed at 2M all season then switched upward to 2M4F and finished 1st of 2nd, or got such a high-RPR for their debut over the trip at the Festival.

I'm not a big Each-Way backer, I don't mind not getting a return from every race, as long as my winners are backed at big enough prices to give as big a ROI as possible.

20/1 for the first 3 at 1/5 the odds, for a place is 4/1 return on half the stake = the equivalent of a 6/4 winner, backed win only, on the full stake.

It doesn't get me too excited, and possibly reduces the number of win-only bets I would have antepost for the Festival, as I would have to double my stake to back each way.

I quite like an each-way double at bigger prices, which if they were both 20/1 and 1/5 the odds first 3, for 1pt E/W would return 25pts, for both being placed.

So the equivalent of a 11.5/1 winner for the initial outlay.
That's more appealing.

I will take it on the chin if he is beaten a nose in the Ryanair next March.

[Lobos]

Melon is a juicy price for this and with his festival record he simply can't be ignored/forgotten which is exactly what I've done until you brought him up. Deffo one I need to get onside. Big error by backing him just for the Arkle this year. Do think he would have gone close in that but we shall never know.

[Lobos]

Found an interview with Henderson by Matt Chapman at the end of March this year......when asked by Matt for 'One for the future' Nicky replied 'Angels Breath will be back and was as good as anything before getting injured'. Some praise and nice to hear.

[opatcho]

Taken the 20/1’s on Melon

Plenty of Fez experience. Didn’t find a stride at the final fences back in March, which cost him the race
Jumped great before that

[Leman14]

Taken the 20/1’s on Melon

Plenty of Fez experience. Didn’t find a stride at the final fences back in March, which cost him the race
Jumped great before that

Hope you went EW.
We all know he’ll come 2nd

[gjt7756]

Been running through the likely starters for this race come March and this could literally be up there on form with all the championship races this season, it could potentially be a cracker, but I have to agree that Melon looks outstanding value at 20/1

[SharpHat]

Couldn't touch melon. Not good enough to win a piss poor marsh , not good enough to win a ryanair. Might be second tho.

[gjt7756]

I’m not sure how you could call that marsh piss poor when the form and class horses were all at the fore, if you believe Faugheen, Samcro and Melon are not up to standard then we must read form lines very differently, and if Melon finished second at 20/1 I’ll gladly take the 4/1 win it pays!!

[Middle_Of_March]

Couldn't touch melon. Not good enough to win a piss poor marsh , not good enough to win a ryanair. Might be second tho.

Piss poor marsh? Harsh!

[Hurdles or chasing]

Surely Melon will be a bigger price than 20/1 throughout the season when he looses a few like he always does before turning inside out at Cheltenham

[Craigy14]

I think Melon has improved for fences without being a wow horse, on what he did over hurdles. Two seconds in the champion hurdle will always read good form I suppose behind a dual winner.

He was second on chase debut to Fakir giving loads of weight, won his second start over fences although not as good in the jumping department that day and then 4th in the Arkle trial at Dublin which you could read turned out to be trips too short for him.

Ran a blinder again at Cheltenham in the Marsh and just beaten by Samcro.

He may be the same Melon and not win much but I think he could also step up again in his second season chasing and prove a few doubters.