October 27 / 13.50 Aintree

13.50

Good

Virgin Bet Old Roan Limited Handicap Chase (Grade 2) (GBB Race)

  • Prize money: £45560
  • 2m 3f 200y
  • Class 1
  • 5 runners
ITV
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Virgin Bet Old Roan Limited Handicap Chase (Grade 2) (GBB Race)

Runners: 5 runners

Type: Chase Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Scattered showers

100/30 (Won)

  • Win: £4.00
  • Place: £1.70

Form: 2372P- D

Last run: 198 days

W: 10st 6lb

9 yo Gelding

OR: 148

Form & Verdict
Inconsistent last season but goes well fresh and he was runner-up in this race last October (good to soft; also effective on good ground); he runs off a mark 6lb lower than 12 months ago so is well worth a second look.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2

23rd Apr 2026

Good To Soft

2m 7f 180y

Class 3

15:40 Perth

Minella Drama

12st 2lb

J: Theo Gillard

T: Donald McCain

Very useful chaser at his best, last win coming in the 2024 Old Roan Chase at Aintree (2m4f, good); highly tried this term, best run when second in a Listed chase at Kelso in February (2m7f, good to soft); on a fair mark now.

9/1

1

4th Apr 2026

Good To Soft

2m 3f 203y

Class 2

15:20 Haydock

Minella Drama

12st 0lb

J: Theo Gillard

T: Donald McCain

Inconsistent nowadays but ran well in second when facing an impossible mission behind Protektorat at Kelso (2m7f, good to soft) last time; now 5lb lower than when third in the Old Roan Chase at Aintree (2m4f, good to soft) in October and this C&D winner is capable of being involved.

11/1

2nd

1

28th Feb 2026

Good To Soft

2m 7f 96y

Class 1

13:40 Kelso

Minella Drama

11st 8lb

J: Brian Hughes

T: Donald McCain

Smart on his day and ran creditably when third in the Old Roan at Aintree (2m4f, good to soft) in October, a race he'd won in 2024; however, two runs since have been poor and he has to concede weight all round.

11/1

5/1

  • Place: £2.40

Form: 09283- D BF

Last run: 183 days

W: 11st 0lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 157

Form & Verdict
Just one win from last 16 starts and inconsistent last season, including when tailed off in this race on reappearance; however, he was returning from a break when going close in this in 2022 (good to soft) and showed considerable spark when Grade 2 runner-up this February; capable of having a big say.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5

10th Apr 2026

Good To Soft

2m 5f 19y

Class 1

16:05 Aintree

Hitman

11st 7lb

J: Freddie Gingell

T: Paul Nicholls

10yo who has become inconsistent and hasn't shone on his last two starts; however, he has a good record over regulation fences here and has the same mark as when winning the Old Roan (2m4f, good to soft) last October; prominent for a fair way in last season's Grand National; not written off.

33/1

1

17th Jan 2026

Good To Soft

2m 5f 13y

Class 2

14:20 Ascot

Hitman

12st 0lb

J: Freddie Gingell

T: Paul Nicholls

Runner-up in this race last year and he ended a long losing sequence in the Old Roan at Aintree (2m4f, good to soft) on reappearance; however, he's less consistent than he once was and he was well held in the Peterborough Chase at Huntingdon last time; needs to bounce back from that.

8/1

3

26th Oct 2025

Good

2m 3f 200y

Class 1

14:55 Aintree

Hitman

11st 3lb

J: Freddie Gingell

T: Paul Nicholls

9yo who has won just one of his last 21 starts and struggled on his final two outings last season (albeit in Grand National on first occasion); however, he often runs very well, as when runner-up in this race last year (good) and in 2022 (good to soft), and there's every chance he'll be bang there.

6/1

OUR TIP

Form: P4362- C

Last run: 199 days

W: 11st 12lb

9 yo Gelding

OR: 169

Form & Verdict
Aintree brings out the best in him and, for the second year running, he was a gallant runner-up in the Grade 1 Bowl (3m1f, soft) in April; also effective on good ground and there can be optimism he'll be fine at 2m4f if he's on song; he's needed his reappearance run in each of the last two seasons (tailed off/pulled up) but has to be respected in view of his record here.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

12th

1

1st Feb 2026

Good To Soft

2m 7f 180y

Class 2

15:40 Musselburgh

Ahoy Senor

12st 0lb

J: Derek Fox

T: Lucinda Russell & Michael Scudamore

Very much the class act in this field but he's become hugely frustrating as a chaser and tailed off (after making the running) when he reverted to hurdles in a Grade 2 at Newbury on latest outing; thrown in if he can even remotely get his act together.

14/1

1

26th Oct 2025

Good

2m 3f 200y

Class 1

14:55 Aintree

Ahoy Senor

11st 12lb

J: Derek Fox

T: Lucinda Russell & Michael Scudamore

10yo who was underwhelming in the main last season and soundly beaten in the Grade 1 Bowl here in April, having finished runner-up in the previous two runnings of that 3m contest; a longer trip than this would probably be preferable but he's 7lb lower than when a close third in this last year and is well worth a second look in view of his record at this track.

13/2

5th

1

3rd Apr 2025

Good To Soft

3m 0f 210y

Class 1

14:55 Aintree

Ahoy Senor

11st 10lb

J: Patrick Wadge

T: Lucinda Russell

Comes with some risk having failed to complete in his last three starts (had wind surgery prior to latest); however, comes alive at Aintree and has performed well in this race for the last two years, taking form figures at this meeting to 1122 (gained the wins in Grade 1 novice events over hurdles/fences); big player provided that pattern is sustained.

6/1

Form: 5/1P5- D

Last run: 227 days

W: 11st 6lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 163

Form & Verdict
Pulled up at Cheltenham on New Year's Day and he wasn't back to his very best when fifth in the Ryanair at the Cheltenham Festival; however, he's had a second wind op since and has an excellent reappearance record, as evidenced by his Paddy Power Gold Cup win last November (2m4f, soft); won on good ground earlier in career; firmly in calculations.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

7

3rd Apr 2025

Good To Soft

3m 0f 210y

Class 1

14:55 Aintree

Stage Star

11st 10lb

J: Harry Cobden

T: Paul Nicholls

Best known for his 2m4f exploits that include Grade 1 novice wins over hurdles/fences; however, put up a good fight against odds-on L'Homme Presse when upped to 3m1f in Grade 2 at Cheltenham (soft) most recently, emerging as the best horse at the weights; one of a few runners who remain unexposed at this sort of trip.

13/2

3rd

7

3rd Apr 2025

Good To Soft

3m 0f 210y

Class 1

14:55 Aintree

Stage Star

11st 10lb

J: Harry Cobden

T: Paul Nicholls

Best known for his 2m4f exploits that include Grade 1 novice wins over hurdles/fences; however, put up a good fight against odds-on L'Homme Presse when upped to 3m1f in Grade 2 at Cheltenham (soft) most recently, emerging as the best horse at the weights; one of a few runners who remain unexposed at this sort of trip.

13/2

2nd

2

25th Jan 2025

Good

3m 1f 56y

Class 1

14:25 Cheltenham

Stage Star

11st 8lb

J: Harry Cobden

T: Paul Nicholls

raced in second, led after 1st, faced challenge before 2 out, soon disputing lead, hung left run-in, no extra towards finish

9/1

Form: 5491P- D

Last run: 199 days

W: 10st 6lb

9 yo Gelding

OR: 146

Form & Verdict
Well beaten more often than not last season but showed strong form on a couple of occasions, winning at Chepstow (2m3f, soft) on reappearance and landing the Grand Annual (2m, soft) in March; also effective on good ground; his record when fresh provides hope he'll be at the top of his game.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

1

1st May 2026

Good

2m 4f 0y

Class 5

20:00 Warwick

Unexpected Party

12st 4lb

J: Miss Heidi Palin

T: Dan Skelton

Bled from the nose when a fading fourth in the Aintree Foxhunters latest (2m5f, good to soft), though still had Fan De Blues comfortably behind for the second time this year; more prolific on easier surfaces but Taunton win in January reaffirmed he's effective on good as well.

2/5

4th

22

9th Apr 2026

Good To Soft

2m 5f 19y

Class 2

15:30 Aintree

Unexpected Party

12st 0lb

J: Miss Heidi Palin

T: Dan Skelton

Won the Grand Annual at Cheltenham Festival in March 2024 (2m, soft) and runner-up in it last year (good to soft); comfortable wins in hunter chases on last two starts (2m5f/2m6f, good/good to soft); his stamina will be more severely tested in today's hotter company but leading claims if seeing it out.

4/1

1st

2

14th Feb 2026

Good To Soft

2m 6f 54y

Class 3

16:30 Haydock

Unexpected Party

12st 4lb

J: Miss Heidi Palin

T: Dan Skelton

Useful handicapper who won the Grand Annual Chase at the 2024 Cheltenham Festival (2m, soft) and was second in that race last year (good to soft); did not need to be at best to make winning hunter chase debut at Taunton (2m5f, good; main rival disappointed) last month and ought to remain a potent threat at this level.

5/4

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £19.90
Straight Forecast £17.77
Trifecta £55.00

Selections

RP RATINGS:

Stage Star

SPOTLIGHT:

Minella Drama

POSTDATA:

Unexpected Party

Telegraph:

Ahoy Senor

The Times:

Hitman

TOPSPEED:

Stage Star

WEST COUNTRY:

Stage Star

Daily Mirror:

Stage Star

The Sun:

Stage Star

Daily Record:

Stage Star

THE NORTH:

Minella Drama

D Express:

Minella Drama

The Star:

Unexpected Party