Old Roan Chase: Every Runner’s Betting Guide

We only have five waiting for this season’s Old Roan Chase, but the remaining five look set to put on a show.

In the last few years this race has been ruined by low sun.

This means that all three fences in the houses cannot be jumped in the house straight, turning the race into a kind of bumper.

However, two former Grade 1 winners lined up alongside last season’s runner-up, adding depth to the race.

But don’t be surprised if there is a shocker here as three of the last four SP winners have been 25/1, 16/1 and 18/1.

Now let’s take a closer look at all five of the 2024 contenders Old Roan Chase and the best online bookmakers to make your next bet a winning one.

Old Roan Chase – A betting guide for runners

Now it’s time to take a closer look at the Old Roan Chase and the runners the best bookmakers for horse racing to help you place a winning bet.

Stage 2 star

• Age: 8
• Form: 5/1P5-
• Rating: 163
• Jockey: Harry Cobden
• coach: Paul Nicholls
• Odds: 11/8

The former winner of the Grade 1 Turners Novices’ Chase at the 2023 Cheltenham Festival seems to have boiled over last season in the last two races of the season.

He started with a flawless victory in the Paddy Power Handicap Chase at the November meeting at Cheltenham last season. However, he was pulled on New Year’s Day at Cheltenham when sent off the 11/10 favorite in the Paddy Power New Year’s Handicap Chase.

After that he was given a break and sent to the Festival fresh, but he worked without problems and finished only fifth in the first class Ryanair Chase.

If he bucked the trend of his stable form, he would be a danger to everyone.

But given the current form of the stable, I’d keep him running at his current price.

Former winner of the 1st class pursuit
Gains weight from Ahoy Senor
Good seasonal reappearance record

His coach is out of shape
Bad reputation at Aintree

Star rating:

Bet on Stage Star with talkSPORT BET

4 Minella’s drama

• Age: 9
• Form: 2372P-
• Rating: 149
• Jockey: Brian Hughes
• coach: Donald McCain
• Odds: 7/2

In 2023, Minella Drama had a great race to finish second with a mark of 155.

He comes here with a significantly reduced mark of 148, down two pounds from his last winning mark. This gives him a lively chance of another big race.

Like Ahoy Señor, Minella Drama has saved some of its best performances for Aintree.

He was last seen in the Grade 1 Johnbon-winning Melling, but before that he was an excellent second to Thunder Rock in the bet365 Premier Chase at Kelso (six lengths from third).

This has clearly been the main goal at the start of the season for Minella Drama and he should be ready to go the first time he is asked.

The only worry is that if he uses his usual leadership tactics, he’ll have Ahoy Señor for company.

But overall, he has a solid chance of reaching those places again.

Good results at Aintree
Second in last year’s update
From a significantly reduced mark

Leadership will be assumed
There is more to find with the first two.

Star rating:

Bet on Minella Drama with BetMGM

1 Ahoy Senor

• Age: 9
• Form: P4362-
• Rating: 169
• Jockey: Derek Fox
• coach: Lucinda Russell
• Odds: 9/2

There is no doubt that Aintree is where Ahoy Senior keep their best records.

In his four Grade 1 starts at Aintree, Ahoy Senior has won the Grade 1 Mildmay Novices’ Chase and is yet to finish outside the top three in his other three starts.

In the three times he has been beaten, he has chased home Grand National winner Noble Yates, multiple Grade 1 winner Shishkin and recent Gold Cup runner-up Gerry Colombe.

He rightly carries the brunt of the top weight here, where he has to concede up to 19 pounds to his two rivals.

As we know he has his own way of doing things and tries to impress on the fence, but on a day to day basis he is a top class chaser.

A slight concern might be his record when fresh. He is yet to win his first time out in form 2UR5PU4.

It is a concern, but given that he is now ten years old, Lucina Russell may have more of him than usual to claim this early season price on a track he loves.

If that’s the reason, it might be worth taking a chance on Ahoy Senor to see if he can buck the trend.

Good course results in 1st grade
Proper performer of the 1st class

Must lose lumps of weight
Still to win after the seasonal return

Star rating:

Bet on Ahoy Senor with Spreadex

3 Hitman

• Age: 8
• Form: 09283-
• Rating: 157
• Jockey: Freddie Gyngell
• coach: Paul Nicholls
• Odds: 9/2

Hitman has been a talking horse since he hit the racetrack. But for all the talk, he has managed just three wins from 20 chase starts, with the last of those three wins coming in November 2022 (Minella Drama third).

He was sent off as the 7/2 favorite in the 2023 Old Roan Chase but finished 11th of 11, beaten 114 lengths. This is not the first time that its constitution has been called into question.

It’s fair to say that he has so much to gain from Stage Star, let alone Ahoy Señor, and weight may not be enough to bring them together.

There will come a time when he finds his level again, but I don’t see him here.

In gaining weight

A particular favorite for this year 2023
She did not win for almost two years

Star rating:

Bet on Hitman with VBET

5 Unexpected party

• Age: 9
• Form: 5491P-
• Rating: 149
• Jockey: Harry Skelton
• coach: Dan Skelton
• Odds: 14/1

An underdog among the five contestants, but would it be unexpected if Unexpected Party won?

Not necessarily

He was sent off from 5/1 second favorite for the Paddy Power Gold Cup, which Stage Star won in November last season. Unexpected Party was eight pounds off Stage Star that day and now he’s on 12 pounds from the same opponent.

There was a big gap between them at Cheltenham, but with Unexpected Party likely to be ready for that goal early in the season, it wouldn’t be the biggest shock in the world if he beats his big chance.

His odds may say he’s out of contention, but he could be involved.

Most likely, he will be ready for this
His two pursuit wins came in fields of six runners or fewer

Can over race
There is something to find in the ratings

Star rating:

Bet on an unexpected party with Copybet

Verdict Old Roan Chase

This has the makings of a top class 2 chase and let’s hope all the fences are jumped. He may have to carry the most weight here, but at prices, GOY SENIOR he is the one to be on the side.

As mentioned, his record speaks for itself, and with the likelihood that he’ll be more forward than usual in his season-long return, he may have a hard time stopping here.

If Stage Star had reached his goal, he would have posed a huge danger to everyone. But he could be out for a run as a cloud of form hangs over Ditchit.

Minalla Drama looks the best of the rest.

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