William Hill Old Roan Limited Handicap Chase (Grade 2) (GBB Race)

Off time: 14:55 | Winning time: 4m 55.77s

Ahoy Senor²⁰⁶

Age: 10| Weight: 11-12| J: D R Fox| T: L Russell & M Scudamore| OR: 162| C| D

17/2

Course winner who isn't a fluent jumper but is top-class on his day. Resumed last term with a solid third in this but completed only once after when a below-par fifth in Bowl Chase here in the spring. Still can't be dismissed on his reappearance.

Form: 2/3PPF5-

Image of Stars that are filled with the colour gold

Master Chewy¹⁸³

Age: 8| Weight: 11-6| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: N & W Twiston-Davies| OR: 156| C

3/1

Very smart chaser who was a gutsy winner of the Game Spirit at Newbury in February and also came in a solid fifth in the Ryanair at Cheltenham. Yard is going very well so he must enter calculations on his seasonal return.

Form: 4F3156-

Hitman^p,t¹⁸³

Age: 9| Weight: 11-3| J: Freddie Gingell| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 153| D

9/1

Hasn't won many races but posted solid runners-up efforts on his first 3 starts last season, including in Grade 2 Denman Chase at Newbury in February. Well held in Oaksey Chase at Sandown final run in April but can't be discounted after a lay-off.

Form: 3/222P7-

Boombawn¹⁸³

Age: 8| Weight: 11-3| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton| OR: 153| CD

11/4

A useful hurdler and even better over fences, bagging the Grade 2 Rising Stars at Wincanton last November. Ended the term with very good efforts in Grade 1 Manifesto Novices' Chase here and Oaksey Chase at Sandown in the spring. Big shout.

Form: 315245-

Minella Drama^t²⁰⁵

Age: 10| Weight: 10-12| J: B S Hughes| T: D McCain Jnr| OR: 148| CD

9/1

Took this last term (also runner-up in this in 2023) but not so good subsequently and he ended the campaign with a poor effort in the Topham Chase here in April. No surprise to see him get back on track now however.

Form: 2P/1P9P-

Imperial Saint²⁰⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 10-8| J: Sean Houlihan| T: P Hobbs & J White| OR: 144| BF| CD

2/1

Scored three times here last season, including over C&D, and he signed off with a good second of 12 in handicap chase here in April. This likeable sort is very much one to consider on his seasonal return.

Form: 171342-

Knockanore^p¹⁸³

Age: 8| Weight: 10-6| J: R Patrick| T: R Potter| OR: 127| D

40/1

Took his form up a couple of notches when a wide-margin winner of Newcastle's Eider in February but a long way out of the handicap when tenth in bet365 Gold Cup final start. 15 lb "wrong" in the weights here too.

Form: 133160-

Forecasts

Imperial Saint (2/1), Boombawn (11/4), Master Chewy (3/1), Ahoy Senor (17/2), Hitman (9/1), Minella Drama (9/1), Knockanore (40/1)

It could pay to side with Dan Skelton's smart sort BOOMBAWN who showed his liking for this track when a very good fourth in the Manifesto Novices' Chase in the spring and could have more to offer this term. The likeable Imperial Saint goes really well round here and rates a big danger though, while Master Chewy must also enter calculations with his yard among the winners. Last year's victor Minella Drama also commands plenty of respect in a wide open renewal of the Old Roan.