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The Melling Chase is a Grade 1 steeplechase run over 2 miles and 4 furlongs on the Mildmay Course at Aintree in early April. Open to horses aged five years and upwards, the race is currently sponsored by leading American stockbroker Marsh & McLennan and, hence, known as the Marsh Chase for sponsorship purposes. The officially registered title, though, comes from the nearby village of Melling in Sefton, Merseyside. The Melling Chase is currently scheduled as the fourth race on the second day of the three-day Grand National Festival, a.k.a. Ladies’ Day.

The Melling Chase was inaugurated, as a Grade 1 contest, in 1991 and has maintained that status throughout its lifetime. Indeed, the field often features horses that contested the Queen Mother Champion Chase or the Ryanair Chase at the Cheltenham Festival and the roll of honour includes the likes of Viking Flagship, Moscow Flyer, Master Minded, Sprinter Sacre and Politologue. Paul Nicholls, trainer of Master Minded and Politologue, and Nicky Henderson, trainer of Sprinter Sacre, have both saddled three winners apiece and are, jointly, the leading handlers in the history of the Melling Chase.

A total of half a dozen horses have won the Melling Chase twice, but the most recent to them, Fakir D’oudairies, who won back-to-back renewals in 2021 and 2022, may be in a position to attempt an unprecedented hat-trick in 2023. Joseph O’Brien’s Kapgarde gelding will still only be an 8-year-old by the time 3.25pm on Friday, April 8 rolls around, so it will be interesting to see how his season develops. Of course, top-class two-mile steeplechasers, such as Energumene, Shiskin and Edwardstone, are always possibilities while, from the ‘intermediate’ division, leading Ryanair Chase fancies Allaho and Galopin Des Champs are other possibilities.

In a remarkable career in the saddle, Sir Anthony McCoy rode over 4,000 winners but, as far as the wider public is concerned, achieved his crowning glory when winning the 2010 Grand National on Don’t Push It.

In fifteen previous attempts, McCoy had finished third in the celebrated steeplechase three times – on Blowing Wind twice, in 2001 and 2002, and Clan Royal in 2006 – but never won. Nevertheless, despite being pulled up on his previous start in the Pertemps Network Final at the Cheltenham Festival, where he reportedly ‘appeared to lose interest’, Don’t Push It was the subject of a public gamble, from 20/1 to 10/1 joint-favourite, on Grand National Day.

The market support proved well founded. The 10-year-old was well placed, just behind the leaders, heading out into the country for the second time and, despite making a mistake at the fence after Valentine;s Brook, was one of a group of four horses that drew clear with two fences left to jump. He tackled the leader, Black Apalachi, at the final fence and, although idling on the infamously long run-in, drew away in the closing stages to win by 5 lengths. McCoy later confessed, ‘It means everything to me to win the Grand National.’

Collectively, McCoy, winning trainer Jonjo O’Neill and winning owner John ‘J.P.’ McManus had made 62 attempts to win the Grand National. Don’t Push It was retired in January, 2012, at which point O’Neill reflected, ‘I think we’ll always remember the magical day he won the Grand National…as we had all been trying to win the race for so many years.’

If I weighed 30 stone and waddled towards the Parade Ring at Great Yarmouth I may hear some shout: ‘Hello, Big Fella!’

I’d look around and see it would be Derek Thompson.

I’ve seen Mr. Thompson at the races on numerous occasions including when my girlfriend entered the Best Dressed Lady Competition at Great Yarmouth. Marlene got in the top ten. As we were walking back Tommo said: ‘You should have won!’

No, he wasn’t talking about my chances!

It’s always a racing certainty that Derek Thompson will be greeted with a warm welcome at courses and he is a natural when it comes to Ladies Day. A true entertainer and good bloke. In fact, he is quite comical without realising and some have even noted he is on the same wavelength as Alan Partridge with his advert for Crown Hotel, Bawtry, Doncaster. His comedic quote: ‘Are you well? I thought you were.’

I’ve been following horse racing for over 30 years and Derek has been a race caller as long as I can remember. But let’s learn a little more about his career as a sports commentator.

Derek Thompson was born on the 31^st July 1950 at Stockton-on-Tees, Yorkshire, England. His brother, Stanley, was a horse trainer and Derek rode a few races as an amateur jockey. In addition, he used to ride with the local hunt where he met future Grand National winner Bob Champion, who is a lifelong friend.

Thompson was a natural when it came to sport and commentated on a point-to-point race at the age of 15.

In fact, unknown to many, he worked, unpaid, as an assistant trainer for Denys Smith. Later, he move to Chantilly, France, to be assistant trainer to Pierre Sanoner.

At the age of 18, he began broadcasting for a local radio station which led to an opportunity in 1972 working at London for BBC Radio Sport. He worked alongside Peter Bromley and called a few Grand National races over this period.

His big break came when joining ITV in 1981 and appeared on World Of Sport and midweek racing coverage. His career moved forward in 1985 when he joined the newly formed Channel 4 Racing as a presenter until 2012. He and John McCririck were dropped by the newly formed International Management Group (IMG).

These days, Thompson commentates for At The Races and talkSPORT radio.

In recent years, he has suffered from ill health which led to the biography written by Lee Mottershead titled – Tommo: Too Busy To Die, published by Racing Post Books (2014).

A great read.