Aintree review and video replays | Hitman wins Old Roan

The Paul Nicholls-trained nine-year-old has run a series of creditable races in big handicaps but had only won one of his last 21 starts.

Hitman has been a standing dish in this two and a half mile contest, struggling in 2023 but finishing second in the two years either side of that.

This time around, the race appeared to be in safe-keeping as soon as he hit the front, from Master Chewy, at the second last with Hitman landing running and seemingly travelling better than any of his rivals.

Freddie Gingell kept him up to his work and he'd extended the lead to three lengths jumping the last; Hitman measured that flight well and kept on to win by two lengths from Master Chewy.

Ged Mason, part of the successful owners' partnership, told Racing TV that the prize money would be donated to the Ricky Hatton Foundation.

"From early in his career I sponsored Ricky and when I saw this horse had won in France, the agent contacted Paul Nicholls," Mason explained.

"With Hitman being the name, we bought the horse. Hitman has been the bridesmaid a few times but has come good today. He always tries and is always up there and thanks must go to George who rides him out every day and all of Paul Nicholls’ team at Ditcheat.

"Paul is magic, he just knows how to get the best out of a horse. Time after time he's brought horses back and he's just a great, great trainer and I'm grateful to all at Team Ditcheat.

“He did that for Ricky up there. Ricky was a top, top man who helped so many people. Do speak out if you have got problems – that is what his message would be today.”

On his prize money donation to the Ricky Hatton Foundation, Mason added: “I am absolutely delighted that we can help Ricky’s memory and legacy in some way. The family have set up the foundation and all of Hitman’s proceeds go to it, kicking off today. He has won an amazing amount of prize money for finishing second but today all guns were out.

“Hopefully Ricky is looking down and smiling at us. As we have said, nobody needs to fight alone – there are a lot of people with problems, and you’ve just got to share your problems with other people. Hopefully the foundation will be a vehicle for people to do that.”

Paul Speak, who was Hatton’s long-time manager and friend, added: “This man [Mason] is amazing. You are not going to find a more compassionate and generous man than this man. I can’t thank him enough and he is an unsung hero.

“I am just speechless. I said a prayer, and it was answered.”

Kim Bailey and Mat Nicholls, who joined forces on the licence at the start of 2025, have made a bright start to the current season and the Gloucestershire handlers have a bright prospect on their hands in Marsiac (9/2) who got the better of a good tussle with Big Ticket in the two and a half mile maiden hurdle.

"There's been some smart horses win that race," Nicholls said.

"He ran very well at Uttoxeter first time over two miles, we were just finding out what we had, and we thought the step up in trip would suit and it looks like he'll go further; impressed with that, very pleased.

"He looks to be quite smart. We've got a lot of novice hurdlers this year, Kim and I were joking the other day that it is great for the future but if they all need handicapping, we're going to be in for a slow season! They've started very well, a couple of them have won, and we thought he was one of the better ones, he looked like it today.

"It's exciting times and hopefully we can keep on going."

Nigel and Willy Twiston-Davies had to settle for second in that contest but went one better in the preceding William Hill Vieux Lion Rouge Veterans' Handicap Chase with Torn And Frayed (4/1) who was ridden by Sam Twiston-Davies.

Ace Of Spades (7/4 favourite) showed a good attitude to win the William Hill Each Way Extra Handicap Hurdle for Dan and Harry Skelton.

A progressive novice at up to three miles last season, Ace Of Spades was well supported ahead of his seasonal reappearance back over two and a half miles and didn't let his backers down.

In a tightly grouped field, he took up the lead full of running and stayed on well to deny a late rally from the front-running Moonbow to win by a length and a quarter.

The successful trainer said: "We brought a nice few horses up here today but I have to say in terms of looks, just his coat, he was an absolute standout to me. I don't know why, he must have had some extra Polos or something.

"He's improved for sure. I felt there was a bit of improvement from today and we were going to go three miles next time and will still go three miles next time and hopefully what the handicapper puts him up, we can find with improvement in trip."

A three mile handicap at Haydock could be next although Skelton cautioned: "As long as the ground is really not soft/heavy because if it is, we'll have to wait because I don't want to get bogged down in that ground.

"Horses have to step out of handicap company and climb the ladder; I'm not saying he's going to but you have to give them a chance to be a bit better than they might be and maybe they get better."

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