Tag Archive for: Old Roan Chase

Jetoile surprises Old Roan rivals at Aintree

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Ryan Potter registered the biggest victory of his training career as Jetoile ran out a shock 25-1 winner of the Jewson Fast Set Finish Old Roan Limited Handicap Chase at Aintree.

Second to Constitution Hill in the Tolworth Hurdle as a novice, the son of Jeremy had disappointed over fences in the main last season before turning his campaign around with a pair of handicap victories at Chepstow in the spring.

That saw him arrive on Merseyside off a mark of 146 for his stiffest test to date over fences and he proved more than up to the task in the hands of Daryl Jacob.

Ryan Potter trains Jetoile
Ryan Potter trains Jetoile (Simon Marper/PA)

In a race that saw all of the fences in the home straight bypassed, Jetoile made stylish progress to stalk long-time front runner Minella Drama after the final jumping test and having edged his way to the front with the winning post approaching, was driven out for a one-and-three-quarter-length victory over Donald McCain’s brave runner-up.

Al Dancer kept on gamely for third, but both the Paul Nicholls-trained 7-2 favourite Hitman and Dan Skelton’s My Drogo failed to make their presence felt, with the former checking out tamely and finishing last of the 11 runners.

Potter said: “At the start of last season we thought he was going to be one of the top novice chasers in the country. He slipped at Cheltenham and he lost his confidence and it took him until the end of season to get it back. I know he didn’t beat loads, but he was so impressive at Chepstow.

“I’m under no illusions that a lot of these big yards will be using this race as a stepping stone, but I had him ready for today as I felt it was a great opportunity so I had him fit. The bookmakers might have dismissed his chances but I didn’t.

“I ride him every day and he has been working unbelievable at home. He is a yard superstar and I will probably never have another one like him. I’m only in my third season training and this is extraordinary. I’m nearly crying.

“This has been since the target since the day we turned him out after winning at Chepstow. I’m hoping because the fences were out that the handicapper won’t be so hard on him as if the fences were in he would have won easier. All he does is jump and travel. The fences being out has hopefully done us a favour with the handicapper.”

Jetoile could now bid for a second Grade Two prize in the Fitzdares Peterborough Chase at Huntingdon on December 10.

Potter added: “He has to either go for the Peterborough Chase or the December Gold Cup (at Cheltenham). If I was a lot bolder I would have put an entry in for the Paddy Power Gold Cup, but I didn’t want to get ahead of myself.

“I’d say at this moment in time we will probably go for the Peterborough Chase, but we will enjoy today.”

If Jetoile runs at Huntingdon, he could face a rematch with Minella Drama, who delighted McCain on his seasonal return.

Minella Drama could also look to the Peterborough Chase
Minella Drama could also look to the Peterborough Chase (Mike Egerton/PA)

He said: “He is a wonderful little racehorse. He is a bit wild, and Brian (Hughes) makes it look a lot more simple than it is.

“You would have to think the way he was going around when they were jumping that he would have won. It is a great start to the season, and we will have to try to let him have his big day somewhere.

“He is the type of horse that we believe will always run well to be placed in a Grade One as he always runs his race.

“His ideal scenario would be running between two and a half miles and two and three-quarter miles, going right-handed on slow ground.

“You have the Peterborough Chase, and those sorts of races, so we would have to have think of having a go at something like that.

“He takes some managing, but he is a wonderful racehorse and he always gives his best.”



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Al Dancer seeking to build on Chepstow success at Aintree

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Sam Thomas has made a superb start to the season and will be looking for Al Dancer to continue his fine run of form in Sunday’s Jewson Fast Set Finish Old Roan Limited Handicap Chase at Aintree.

Al Dancer was one of the stable’s three high-profile winners at Chepstow’s big two-day meeting earlier this month, when scoring by seven and a half lengths from fellow joint-favourite Nocte Volatus.

“We were really happy with his first run at Chepstow, which has put him up to a career-high mark,” said the Glamorgan handler.

“So, with him being a 10-year-old now, we thought it was worth having another go at a good race with him.

“It’s a tough ask because it looks a very hot race, but he’s very well in himself and that’s always a big plus.

“We didn’t manage to get much out of him last season, so it’s great to get him back enjoying himself.

“Touch wood, a lot of our horses have been firing on all cylinders so far, so long may that continue.”

Tommy’s Oscar is another who will have fitness on his side after a smooth Kelso success on his seasonal reappearance for Ann Hamilton, who won here with Nuts Well in 2020.

Hitman was second in this race last year for Paul Nicholls, going down by just a head to Riders Onthe Storm.

He went on to finish third in the Ryanair Chase at Cheltenham and the champion trainer said: “He loves to be fresh and I am sure he will win a nice race. He is still only a young horse.”

Jewson Halloween Family Day – Aintree Racecourse
Riders Onthe Storm and Hitman (left) jump the final fence in last year’s Old Roan (Nigel French/PA)

Do Your Job was sent off favourite 12 months ago, finishing sixth, and has since switched from Michael Scudamore to the in-form Lucinda Russell.

The Scottish handler said: “I always admired him when Michael had him in training and he seems to be well suited to our gallop.

“He’s a big, strong horse who takes a little bit of getting to know. We’ve done a lot of schooling, Derek (Fox) rides him and I’d love him to do well this season for the owner and all the connections.

“We’ll see how we get on with him, but I think the Old Roan Chase is a good starting point.”

Datsalrightgino signed off last season with a spirited win in the Grade Two Future Champion Novices’ Chase at Ayr and is reported in fine spirits by Jamie Snowden.

The trainer said: “He was very progressive last season as a novice and finished up almost 20lb higher than he started.

“He definitely improved for stepping up to two and a half miles and we think he’s improved again ahead of this season, although he’ll need to, as this is a tough race.

Coral Scottish Grand National – Ayr Racecourse – Saturday 22nd April
Datsalrightgino with connections after winning at Ayr (Jane Barlow/PA)

“His only real blip last term was at the Cheltenham Festival, but that was on testing ground and he bounced back with a very good win at Ayr on a nice surface.

“We’ve sidestepped a couple of possible engagements this year at Chepstow and Market Rasen because of the ground, but hopefully it should be nice, fresh ground up at Aintree.”

Dan Skelton’s My Drogo looked a horse with huge potential when scoring in the Grade One Mersey Novices’ Hurdle at this venue in April 2021, with the reopposing Minella Drama nine and a half lengths back in second.

He was last seen landing a novice chase at Cheltenham 687 days ago but has been the subject of encouraging comments by connections.

Courtland enjoyed four wins from five outings during a successful summer spell for Peter Bowen, while Emma Lavelle’s Hang In there is chasing a hat-trick after victories at Stratford and Worcester.

Jetoile ended last term with a Chepstow double, while Erne River has always been held in high regard by Nick Kent and completes a quality field.



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Old Roan looks to be on the cards for Tommy’s Oscar

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Ann and Ian Hamilton are thinking of giving Tommy’s Oscar the chance to replicate stable stalwart Nuts Well in the Jewson Old Roan Chase following his facile victory at Kelso on Sunday.

The eight-year-old has now won three times since turning his hand to chasing at the beginning of last season and he looked as good as ever when making his seasonal return in the Scottish Borders, cruising to a six-and-a-half-length success in the hands of Sean Quinlan.

With options limited and hesitations over their charge’s suitability to Cheltenham seemingly ruling out a shot at the Shloer Chase next month, the Northumberland-based team are tempted to step Tommy’s Oscar up to two and a half miles at Aintree later this month for a shot at the valuable Grade Two handicap.

Nuts Well’s victory in that contest ranks as one of the Hamiltons’ training highlights and having taken over the mantle of stable star, Tommy’s Oscar is a fitting candidate to try provide the husband and wife duo with a second chance of success in the race.

“He was good wasn’t he, giving them all that weight it was good,” said Ian Hamilton.

“We’re not sure where to go because he’s a two-miler, but we thought about taking the same route as Nuts Well and go to Aintree for the Old Roan.

“That’s two and a half, but on a flat track. He has won over two and a half but he wouldn’t get it on soft ground.”

He went on: “We’re hoping it will be all right for him because I’m struggling to find anything else. We’re too old to be travelling down to Cheltenham and them places and we’ve also got the farm up here.

“We’ll think about Aintree and he’s come out of the race well. It looks the best option if it’s not too soft.

“You wouldn’t think he has had a race this morning and looking at the race, it looks as if he would possibly stay. I don’t think he’s a Cheltenham horse and he likes a flat track I think. He has a high cruising speed so he can just sit in behind them.”



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