The Grade 2 Old Roan Handicap Chase is Aintree’s opening feature of the jumps season. A seven-strong field of promising chasers are set to line-up on Sunday as Joe Napier previews a race formerly won by Kauto Star and Frodon.
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Favourites
Though he was a rung below top class last season, Imperial Saint began a love affair with Aintree that lasted throughout the campaign. In four starts at the Grand National venue, he won three times and was second during the April meeting, rising 20lb in the handicap. He won twice over 2m and once over 2m4f having also been placed in a big 2m4½f handicap at Cheltenham too, while his second came when upped to 3m1f to conclude the season.
He appeared to stay that distance, but is clearly comfortable over 2m4f, so even though this will be as competitive a race as he has faced, it will likely take a big performance to beat him at this course. One who could be capable of that is Master Chewy, an open Grade 2 winner last season for the Twiston-Davies team. His mark of 156 is higher than he has ever raced off in a handicap, but that Game Spirit victory was a high class performance and he goes on any surface, though there are some doubts about his ability to stay 2m4f.
Another huge improver in 2024/25 was Boombawn. Dan Skelton started his chase career in the summer of 2024, but good-to-soft ground or quicker prevailed enough for him to race for the majority of the autumn and spring. That included a Grade 2 novice victory at Wincanton, while he was fourth over course and distance in the Grade 1 Manifesto Novices’ Chase too. He has shot up the weights, but that aligns with his level of performance and he should remain competitive.
Contenders
Ten times a runner-up in 25 chase starts, Hitman has a history with this race. He was second in both 2022 and 2024 either side of a bizarrely lifeless effort in 2023, but is now 6lb and 4lb below those two runner-up efforts. A mark of 153 is definitely one he can win off if able to knuckle down for the fight, with his final two runs of last season easy to excuse.
The horse to defeat him last year was Minella Drama for Donald McCain. The ten-year-old was also runner-up in 2023 but has struggled to maintain his form as the previous two campaigns have gone on. He is 1lb lower than when winning a year ago and has regularly proven his best when fresh, though it is difficult to keep the faith based on his more recent efforts, especially as he is now eligible for veterans’ events.
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Outsiders
Ryan Potter won this with 25/1 outsider Jetoile in 2023 and tries his luck again with Knockanore this year. However, his chances this time around are far more remote, with Knockanore over a stone out of the handicap, as he was when a distant tenth in the bet365 Gold Cup last season. He is ultimately more of a stayer than middle distance chaser.
Ahoy Senor has more of a chance however. The multiple Grade 1 winner loves Aintree and was third in this 12 months ago off a mark of 169. He was given a tentative ride that day and is 7lb lower this year, so his fans can feel encouraged, albeit he put in comfortably his weakest effort at this track when only fifth in the Aintree Bowl back in April. The jury is out for now.
Verdict
Hitman may well win off this mark at some point this season, but his winning record remains a check against his name. The most solid option is course specialist IMPERIAL SAINT, a three-time winner here last season, as well as second on his most recent Aintree start over 3m1f. However, this intermediate distance is possibly his ideal trip and he can deal with the step up in class, as he promises to be better than a mark of 144. Boombawn is a threat too, having been another consistent improver throughout the previous campaign.
- Imperial Saint
- Hitman
- Boombawn
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