Fondmort Team Full Of Hope

Trainer Nicky Henderson is confident of a big run from Fondmort in the John Smith's Melling Chase tomorrow.

The Seven Barrows handler was deliberating running his Ryanair Chase hero in the three-mile-one-furlong Betfair Bowl on the first day of the Aintree meeting.

However, Henderson has opted to go for the Grade One contest instead, which will see his charge renew rivalry with Henrietta Knight's Impek, who finished third behind Fondmort at the Cheltenham Festival.

'Two miles, five furlongs is his trip at Cheltenham and the big question we had was whether to run him in the three-miler (Betfair Bowl) or the two and a half (the Melling Chase),' reflected Henderson.

'Having seen the race it would have been interesting.

'Mick (Fitzgerald) and I had a long think where to go and I think two and a half is definitely his trip.

'He has such a good year so I can't see why he can't win this.

'It's the clashing of the two and a half milers against the two milers and he's in very good form.'

Jim Lewis is confident Paul Moloney, who will ride Impek, has what it takes to turn the formbook around with Fondmort.

Lewis is on holiday in South Africa and will not be present to watch his 10-year-old bid for Cheltenham consolation.

With regular pilot Tony McCoy committed to the JP McManus-owned Fota Island ? and Timmy Murphy aboard Martin Pipe's Don't Be Shy ? Moloney, 27, comes in for the plum ride aboard Impek.

And despite his relative lack of big-race experience compared to McCoy and Murphy, Lewis is adamant he has the right man for the job.

'He's a good lad and he knows the horse well,' he explained.

'Paul's ridden plenty of times for us in the past and he won on Maljimar at Fontwell in March.

'I've no qualms about him doing a grand job for us.'

Impek has benefited from more aggressive tactics this term but his temperament got the better of him before the Ryanair Chase and he was not ready when the tapes went up.

'The start was possibly the difference between winning and losing,' added Lewis.

'It will be very interesting to see if the starter is kinder to us this time. Tony (McCoy) felt he didn't really give him a chance at Cheltenham and that he lost 20 lengths at the start.

'He'll be fit from the Ryanair Chase though and Henrietta is very pleased with him.'

Along with Fondmort, Impek will face 10 other rivals in the Grade One event, including Fota Island and Mister McGoldrick, who finished a respective second and third behind Newmill in the Queen Mother Champion Chase.

'He did us proud in the Champion Chase and I think things are set for a good day on Friday,' said Mister McGoldrick's jockey Dominic Elsworth.

'I don't think the extra trip will be a problem and he should go well.'

Fota Island's trainer Mouse Morris is keeping his fingers crossed the extra trip in the Melling will play to his gelding's strengths.

'At Cheltenham he looked like he needed the extra four furlongs,' said Morris.

'It was an improved performance and he stayed on well.

'He's a spring horse and has won at Liverpool before so we are hoping the extra four furlongs will bring out the best in him ? we think he'll run a big race.'

John Smith's Melling Chase

Totesport bet: 10-3 Fota Island, 7-2 Impek, 4 Fondmort, 15-2 Mister McGoldrick, 9-1 Central House, Don't Be Shy, 14-1 River City, 16-1 Hi Cloy, 18-1 Jim, 28-1 Mariah Rollins, 33-1 Strong Project. 2006

(C) PA Sport