Fakir D’Oudairies was the sixth horse to win the Grade One Melling Chase for a second time when he came home five-and-a-half lengths in front of Hitman 12 months ago, but he will be the first to complete a hat-trick if he can overcome six opponents at Aintree on Friday.
Joseph O’Brien’s chaser was sent off at odds-on last year on the back of a Grade One win in the Ascot Chase in February, but he was third in the same event this season behind Thursday’s Bowl winner, Shishkin.