Melling Chase Odds & Betting Guide

In this article, we tell you about the JCB Melling Chase odds and betting markets. The second day’s premier race is run over 2 miles, 3 furlongs, and 200 yards on the Aintree racecourse.

If you’re planning to bet on this race, read our guide on the popular JCB Melling Chase betting markets, latest odds, and what to look for in a runner.

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How to Understand the Melling Chase Odds

Bookmakers assign Melling Chase odds to each horse based on how likely they are to win the race. If the horse is a favourite or a past winner, it will be assigned “short” odds, meaning bets on it return a low profit. On the other hand, inexperienced horses are given “long” odds, as they have a long shot of winning.

UK sportsbooks commonly show fractional odds like 7/1, 30/1, etc. The denominator represents the bet amount, and the numerator shows the expected return. Before choosing your bet, it’s important to keep two points in mind:

• Fixed odds vs SP: In some races, bookmakers will show fixed prices such as 5/6, 2/7, etc. These are available well before the race starts, mostly for the Outright Winner market. For other markets, however, you’ll see “SP” odds. This is the Starting Price, which is revealed at the start of the race. So, if you bet at 10:00 am for a 3:30 pm race and take the SP odds, you get the 3:30 pm price, not the 10:00 am price. Note that SP odds are volatile and may vary significantly compared to odds available earlier in the day. This is because the SP odds are determined on the general market opinion of a horse’s chances just before the start.
• Odds are Dynamic: Melling Chase betting markets are constantly updated as new information lands. For example, the going conditions on the day of the race are revealed to be heavy. This is an extremely wet and muddy surface that tests stamina, and is not ideal for quick-striding speed horses. Based on this, the odds may shift for several horses. Prices also change for the horses if one is declared a non-runner.

Forecast & Tricast Odds

In a forecast bet, punters have to predict the first and second horses in the correct finishing order. This means you need two outcomes to be correct for your bet to pay out, so your potential return is much higher in this market. For example, you predict Horse A will be 1st and Horse B will be second. If the order is reversed or if only one horse places, the bet loses.

Bettors can also take a ‘Reverse Forecast’ bet, which covers both finishing combinations. Take this bet only if you are confident about the best two horses in this race.

A Tricast bet goes one step further. It requires selecting the first three horses in the exact finishing order. It has long odds because the risk is higher. Check the horses’ ratings and previous wins before taking this bet. If it’s a competitive field, you can take the Tricast as a side bet. Cautious bettors should avoid this market.

Popular Melling Chase Betting Markets

Here are some more Melling Chase betting markets to consider:

Win Odds

The Win market is straightforward: predict which horse will finish first in the race. If the horse wins, the bet settles according to the Melling Chase odds provided by the bookmaker. If your bet is successful, your original stake will also be returned.

The favourite is typically the runner with the lowest price. For example, last year’s winner, Jonbon, may be given low odds. However, this is a Grade 1 race, so every runner is in top form. So, make sure to research their race record before placing your bets.

Each-Way Betting

This Melling Chase betting market combines two wagers:

1. A win bet on the horse
2. A place bet on the horse finishing within the top two or three places (determined by the bookmaker)

Since this race has more than 10 runners, bookmakers might give three place bets. This means you can bet that your chosen horse will either win or finish in the top three. Let’s say you want to bet on Impaire et Passe, but are not sure it will win. Take the each-way bet. A £10 bet will be divided £5 on the win and £5 on the place. If Impair et Passe wins the race, both parts of the bet are successful. If it finishes in the top three, but doesn’t win, the Place part of your bet pays out. 

Note that place bets pay lower than win bets as they are calculated as a fraction of the win odds (commonly 1/5 or 1/4).

Take the each-way bet if the field is competitive with more than one past winner.

Match Bets

In a Match Bet, you can select two horses and predict which one will finish ahead of the other. It’s a safer market for cautious bettors, as you don’t have to predict the winner. To bet smartly, you can pit a leading contender against the lowest-rated horse.

Non-Runner No Bet

If your selected horse is declared a non-runner on race day, your stake is refunded in this market. This can be a useful bet on horses that are entering multiple races at the Festival. Trainers may decide to rest or withdraw their horse a day before the final confirmation.

Betting is only available to participants aged 18 years and over. Please bet responsibly. BeGambleAware.org