KALAHARI KING, who came good at Aintree last year after just missing out at the Cheltenham Festival, can produce an encore for North Yorkshire trainer Ferdy Murphy tomorrow.

The feature race is the £175,000 John Smith’s Melling Chase, which is the target for Kalahari King, successful here 12 months ago in top novice company after finishing second in Cheltenham’s Arkle Trophy.

Last month, Kalahari King again had to settle for a minor role at the Festival, finishing third to Big Zeb in the Queen Mother Champion Chase when he was doing all his best work in the closing stages of that two-miler.

Murphy has now decided to step up Kalahari King to two and a half miles, a distance he’s won at in the past, and the extra yardage is likely to suit him perfectly tomorrow.

It’s a tough race, however, with the likes of Albertas Run and Poquelin in the field, but Kalahari King is napped to reign supreme – just as he did 12 months ago – in the hands of Graham Lee.

The opening Top Novices’ Hurdle looks a good opportunity for Menorah to supplement his Cheltenham triumph in the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle.

Philip Hobbs, who has an excellent record in this race – he won it three times in a row from 2000 – has always held Menorah in high regard. Oscar Whisky, fourth to him at Cheltenham, may be the one to follow him most closely this time.

Tomorrow’s race over the Grand National fences is the John Smith’s Topham Handicap Chase and Pasco makes plenty of appeal.

Paul Nicholls’ gelding finished second to stablemate Big Fella Thanks – favourite for Saturday’s Grand National – at Newbury last time out and, if that form can be relied upon, he should go well.

So, too, should Oodachee, sixth in this race two years ago and runner-up last year.

Burton Port is expected to give a good account of himself in the Mildmay Novices’ Chase.

Four from four over fences before taking his chance in last month’s RSA Chase at Cheltenham, Nicky Henderson’s gelding ran a blinder to finish second.

If none the worse for those exertions, he should be hard to beat for owner Trevor Hemmings, who loves winners on this his local course.

Also worth noting are the useful The Minack (4.20) and Clova Island (4.55), who should relish the step up in distance after a good effort at Cheltenham last month over a half-mile shorter trip.

On the Flat at Musselburgh, Westow trainer Paul Midgley, who saddled a double at Redcar on Monday, can produce more of the same with Highland Warrior (3.25) and Internationaldebut (4.35).

Both horses finished second on their seasonal debuts, the evergreen Highland Warrior coming home late and fast here last Sunday, and Internationaldebut just coming off worst in a tight finish at Doncaster.

The pair should go one better.


Racing selections

Aintree
2.00 Menorah, 2.35 Burton Port, 3.10 Kalahari King (NAP), 3.45 Pasco, 4.20 The Minack, 4.55 Clova Island, 5.30 Araucaria.

Musselburgh
2.15 Las Verglas Star, 2.50 Along The Nile, 3.25 Highland Warrior, 4.00 Honest Broker, 4.35 Internationaldebut, 5.10 Nisaal, 5.40 Provost.

Tomorrow’s other meetings:
Kempton, Wolverhampton.

Today’s meetings:
Leicester, Aintree, Taunton, Wolverhampton.