14:40 Aintree

Sunday 23 October 2022

All13:3014:0514:4015:1515:5216:3017:05

Jewson St Helens Old Roan Limited Handicap Chase (Grade 2) (GBB Race)

Off time: 14:40 | Winning time: 4m 57.36s

Hitman^t¹⁹⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: H Cobden| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 159| DWS

10/3

Very smart chaser who acquitted himself with credit without getting his head infront last term, briefly looking a big threat to Fakir D'oudairies when runner-up in C&D Grade 1 back in April. Not always looked strongest in a finish but he's a lead player nevertheless on return/following wind op.

Form: 13/2232-

Millers Bank¹⁸⁰

Age: 8| Weight: 11-6| J: Kielan Woods| T: A M Hales| OR: 153| CD

9/2

8-y-o who is well served by demands of this track, posting a smart effort when landing Grade 1 Manifesto novices' chase over C&D in April. Possible that run left its mark when well held over 3m at Punchestown later that month and much better showing anticipated now.

Form: 1UU215-

Do Your Job^t²⁰⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 10-13| J: Luca Morgan⁽³⁾| T: M Scudamore| OR: 146| D

5/2

Rangy sort who showed useful form over hurdles (second in Grade 1 here) and took form to a new level over fences last season, his jumping faultless as he landed Grade 2 Future Champions' at Ayr (20.5f) in April. Well worth a second look with good record fresh.

Form: 1F2211-

Captain Tom Cat²³

Age: 7| Weight: 10-12| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: Dr R D P Newland| OR: 145| CD

14/1

C&D winner who quickly made up in to a pretty smart chaser during 2021, gaining fourth victory in this sphere in small-field Wincanton Grade 2 last November. Fell at Cheltenham later that month but blew cobwebs away with a good second over hurdles at Hexham 23 days ago.

Form: 1541F-2

Ga Law⁶⁰³

Age: 6| Weight: 10-9| J: J J Burke| T: Jamie Snowden| OR: 142| D

11/1

Ex-French recruit who rattled off a chase hat-trick during second half of 2020, culminating in Grade 2 success at Wincanton. Fared creditably up in class twice thereafter but there must have been an issue to have kept him off the track since early last year. Handicap debut.

Form: 611132/

Soldier Of Destiny^t²¹⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 10-6| J: G Sheehan| T: Jamie Snowden| OR: 137| D

6/1

Modest form at best in couple of hurdle spins but confirmed himself different proposition over fences last season, having no trouble with quicker ground as he doubled tally at Haydock (19.9f) in March. This understandably tougher but he's still low-mileage.

Form: 145131-

Riders Onthe Storm^t¹⁹⁸

Age: 9| Weight: 10-6| J: B S Hughes| T: R Hobson| OR: 136| CD

16/1

High-class chaser earlier in career who looked rejuvenated on back of a break/yard switch when second in a C&D handicap last December, jumping soundly. Couldn't build on that thereafter and not the easiest to assess here.

Form: 3P/20P0-

Beakstown^p,t¹⁸³

Age: 9| Weight: 10-6| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton| OR: 135| D

14/1

Tricky customer (often finds little) but couldn't be faulted when finally off the mark over fences in listed handicap at Ayr (20.5f) in April. May of pressed on a shade too soon at Sandown final start but this no easy return from 4 lb out of the weights.

Form: 922613-

Forecasts

Do Your Job (5/2), Hitman (10/3), Millers Bank (9/2), Soldier Of Destiny (6/1), Ga Law (11/1), Beakstown (14/1), Captain Tom Cat (14/1), Riders Onthe Storm (16/1)

Hard not to see this being run at a good gallop which could well play firmly into the hands of top-weight HITMAN. Paul Nicholls' 6-y-o hasn't always looked the stoutest of finishers but it was hard to crab his second behind Fakir d'Oudairies in Grade 1 company here in April and this could well be his day on the back of a wind op. Last year's Manifesto winner Millers Bank should also find this run to suit and is feared, along with Do Your Job who impressed when scoring at Ayr in the spring.