Old Roan Chase at Aintree: runner-by-runner guide and tip

Sixteen years have slipped by since Kauto Star romped home in the Jewson St Helens Old Roan Limited Handicap Chase at Aintree on his way to becoming one of the greatest chasers there has been.

He made a mockery of a mark of 167 that day and would go on to reach a rating of 193 at his peak, earning that rating after gaining the fourth of his five King George VI Chase triumphs by a jaw-dropping 36 lengths in 2009.

It goes without saying that it’s most unlikely that there is another Kauto Star among Sunday’s 11 possible runners but Paul Nicholls, his trainer, is responsible for Hitman, the same age as Kauto Star when he won the Old Roan and only rated 8lb inferior to him at the same stage of their careers. Here’s a guide to those in the mix.

Trainer: Paul Nicholls. Best odds: 11-4 fav.

Two wins in two years – one of them against two rivals when long odds-on - seems a poor return from such a classy customer but he’s made the frame in four Grade One contests, including twice at this track, and was going well in another when taking a tumble.

He didn’t manage to get his head in front last season but his efforts included finishing runner-up in the Haldon Gold Cup (off a mark of 151), the Tingle Creek and Marsh Chase (Melling) over course and distance. Some of this strong traveller’s finishing efforts have lacked a bit of punch, so a third breathing operation over the summer can be viewed both ways.

Paul Nicholls is adamant he wants a trip, mentioning the King George VI Chase as a possible future target. He’s got to be up to landing this off a rating of 159 if that’s to become a reality. Fitness unlikely to be an issue.

Trainer: Alex Hales. Odds: 11-2.

This is his trip, and this is definitely his track. He raised his game to land what was admittedly an ordinary renewal of the Grade One Manifesto Novices' Chase by ten lengths in April, having been a fine third in the Aintree Hurdle 12 months earlier.

However, non-completions at Newbury and Cheltenham earlier in the campaign (unseated rider each time) tell their own story and a mark of 153 appears to leave little wriggle room. Absent six months, but did win first time up last term.

Trainer: Michael Scudamore. Odds: 4-1.

He established himself as a smart novice last season, signing off with successive wins over this trip at Newcastle, in a handicap off 140, and Ayr, latterly winning in Grade Two company in fluent style. A feature of that latter success was his accurate jumping.

Earlier in the campaign, he’d had his limitations over 2m exposed by top novices Edwardstone and Third Time Lucki. Do Your Job looks the type to keep improving and his mark of 146 could well underestimate him. He lacks a recent run but, encouragingly, has won on his reappearance for the past two years, plus his trainer’s few runners this month have included two impressive winners in Mofasa and Some Chaos, who were both making their return.

Trainer: Dr Richard Newland. Odds: 14-1.

He won four early-season novice events last term but wasn’t seen again after a fall at Cheltenham’s November meeting. A mark of 145 is perhaps on the stiff side – he found 147 beyond him at Market Rasen last summer – but he will lack nothing in fitness after finishing runner-up over hurdles at Hexham last month. The past three winners of this race had all enjoyed a spin beforehand, with Allmankind, successful 12 months ago, also having an initial pipe-opener over hurdles.

Trainer: Jamie Snowden. Odds: 16-1.

He made quite an impression early on the season before last, reeling off successive novice chase wins at Fontwell, Exeter and Wincanton in exciting fashion. There looked to be no excuses for his subsequent defeats in the Henry VIII Novices’ Chase and Pendil Novices’ Chase, but you could reasonably argue that a mark of 142 is lenient.

For instance, he gets a 17lb pull for the eight lengths that Hitman finished in front of him on the first occasion he was beaten at Sandown. The big stumbling block, of course, is his 20-month absence, but the six-year-old is a big price if able to pick up from where he left off. This trip suits him well and his jumping is usually an asset, plus Jamie Snowden has his horses is in fabulous form, a double on Wednesday meaning he has won with his past five runners.

Trainer: Jamie Snowden. Odds: 8-1.

Clearly better over fences than hurdles, although the form of his all-the-way wins at Ffos Las and Haydock last term lacked some substance. He’s gone up a hefty 15lb for those wins and now finds himself in a much deeper race, plus will be 2lb out of the handicap if Hitman stands his ground. But as mentioned above, Snowden has struck with his past six runners.

Trainer: Richard Hobson. Odds: 16-1.

Impressed when landing a valuable handicap over course and distance off a mark of 140 three years ago, going on to land the Grade One Ascot Chase later that winter.

The wheels have fallen off since with a stable switch failing to revive him, although he did flash a bit of his old vigour on his reappearance here last season, only to then run poorly in his other three races.

He’s back from almost seven months off from a sliding mark, and you can imagine this being something of a Cup final. However, he’d prefer deeper ground and you need to take a leap of faith to risk supporting him.

Trainer: Dan Skelton. Odds: 7-1.

He’s usually races up with the pace before folding and it’s not difficult to imagine a similar scenario. Did manage to snap a three-year losing sequence at Ayr in April, but a 6lb rise in the ratings found him out at Sandown next time. Looks exposed and is obliged to race from 4lb out of the handicap.

Hitman has a big engine and should make a bold bid despite top weight. However, he faces no easy task conceding 13lb to DO YOUR JOB, a smart novice himself last season who looks to have plenty going for him. Ga Law has a big absence to overcome but would be interesting if picking up from where he left off.

1 DO YOUR JOB. 2 HITMAN. 3 GA LAW