Old Roan Chase: ‘Magic’ – McCain rejoices as Minella Drama bags claim big prize at Aintree

Donald McCain’s Drama Minella went one better than he did 12 months ago to win the Virgin Bet Old Roan Limited Handicap with an incredible display at Aintree.

Ridden by Brian Hughes, Minella Drama is in fine form on a track that McCain’s name will always be associated with, and the former champion jockey immediately sent his mount forward in the second-tier competition, leading with the 2-1 pair trained by Paul Nicholls. favorite stage star and Hitman.

Both Lucinda Russell’s Ahoy Senor and Dan Skelton’s Grand Annual winner Unexpected Party galloped kindly for their riders at the back of the field, but the eye was constantly on Minella Drama, who jumped nimbly from fence to fence.

The 3-1 hitter was still in the lead when the pitch went straight and Hughes asked him to go all out with two outs as the challengers loomed.

However, the nine-year-old responded to his rider’s every urge and playfully bowed his head as he saw off Hitman, who was a length and three-quarters of a second behind.

McCain said: “It’s magic, he was a great little horse who deserved his big day.

“There’s no better place for him to do it. That’s what it’s all about, and if we could choose where he would win, it would be that place. He’s got local owners and obviously we’re a local yard, so it’s very special.

“He’s in good form here, he came second in the Grade One Novices so obviously he likes the place and I’m sure we’ll be back here at some point.”

Paddy Power has priced him at 16-1 for the Grand Sefton Chase over fences in the Grand National at Aintree next month, but McCain has no specific target in mind at this stage, having won the first major local race of the new year. season.

He continued: “I’ve always been inclined – because he’s so tough – to beat him a bit, but I don’t know if I should take the patience pill when he’s won his big match and give him a chance to regroup. .We’ll get home and figure it out, and there’s no great plan.

“He hates turning right out of the yard to go south, he likes to go north. It sounds funny but he lost a lot at Ascot last year, I couldn’t even saddle him, he was so upset beforehand. There is no rhyme here. or the reason is that it is only him, so we take our time.’