Conflated now takes up Melling Chase engagement at Aintree

Gordon Elliott's Conflated will swerve a crack at the Grand National and instead run in the Melling Chase at Aintree on Friday.

The 10-year-old was shouldering top-weight after the five-day confirmations were confirmed for the National on Monday, but connections did issue ground concerns.

Gigginstown's racing manager Eddie O’Leary said: "Would we chance him over that trip on good ground yes, would we chance him over that trip on heavy ground, probably no."

With further rain forecast on Merseyside, the 2m4f highlight on day two of the Festival is now the target for Conflated.

Also confirmed for the Melling Chase is Jonbon, who steps up to two and a half miles for the first time.

Nicky Henderson's charge has won multiple Grade Ones over the minimum trip but connections have been minded to try him over further for some time.

Having missed the Cheltenham Festival due to concerns over the form of his string, Henderson will be hoping for a better display than the one which saw him beaten at 1-4 in the rearranged Clarence House Chase when he made several jumping errors.

Taking him on are this year's Ryanair winner Protekorat and the 2022 winner of that race - Henry de Bromhead's Envoi Allen.

Protekorat had spent a large part of the previous two seasons running over three miles but excelled dropped in trip last month, while Envoi Allen put up a game defence of his title in second.

Paul Nicholls won the race last year with Pic D'Orhy and the nine-year-old is back again searching for a valuable win for his handler in the race to be champion trainer.

Easy Game and Minella Drama completing the field.

Two smart mares, Golden Ace and Dysart Enos (above), will meet again in the TrustATrader Top Novices' Hurdle.

Fergal O'Brien's Dysart Enos came