By Simon Holt
April 8 2006

AINTREE - FRIDAY

By Simon Holt of Bettingzone.co.uk



Monkerhostin may run at Aintree for the second time in 24 hours in the John Smith's Melling Chase on Friday with connections clearly having more than one eye on the BHB Order of Merit title.

He is a horse who can run well close together, he was quite busy earlier in the season, so you wouldn't rule him out, but as the campaign has gone on he has seemed to need further and further.

He stayed the three miles well in the King George and was then badly outpaced in the Cheltenham Gold Cup last time. So I now have doubts over whether two-and-a-half miles around here may be too sharp for him.

Fondmort is a completelty admirable horse and he was one of the highlights of the Cheltenham Festival when beating Lacdoudal and Impek in the Ryanair Chase.

That is his favourite track and he has had two runs around here before but this trip in a conditions race is much more his cup of tea compared to last year's run in the National. I expect him to confirm Cheltenham form with Impek despite that rival having a good Aintree record.

Fondmort was able to pick off Impek fairly easy two out last time and should have his legs again despite a three pounds pull in the weight.

The Queen Mother Champion Chase form is well represented but I don't feel it was a very strong renewal of that race this year.

Kauto Star fell early on, Moscow Flyer was past his best and now retired while there was a 16/1 winner in Newmill.

In behind Fota Island, Mister McGoldrick and Central House finished second, third and fourth and were beaten around two-and-a-half lengths. That suggests none of them are superstars and there is nothing between them.

They have every chance on official ratings here against the likes of Fondmort and Impek but this isn't their specialist distance.

I wouldn't rule out Don't Be Shy here who looks as though he is crying out for the step up two-and-a-half miles, certainly on this ground. In the Arkle at Cheltenham he was badly outpaced but kept on at the finish over two miles. He is progressing and could be thereabouts but with heart and head I am going to stick with Fondmort.