Paul Nicholls’ Hitman and Il Rodito head the 11 entries for this Sunday’s Jewsons St Helens Monet’s Garden Old Roan Chase at Aintree Racecourse.
As racing returns to the home of the Randox Grand National for the first time since the summer this weekend, the champion trainer is double-handed in his bid for a record fourth victory in the Grade Two feature.
Nicholls has had three victories – Kauto Star (2006), Sound Investment (2015) and Frodon (2018) – in the 2m4f contest run over the Mildmay fences at the Merseyside track. The Ditcheat handler shares the record for most wins with Nicky Richards, who saddled Monet’s Garden – after whom the race is now named – to three victories in 2007, 2009 and 2019.
Nicholls could send Hitman back to Aintree, having seen him finish second over course and distance to dual Marsh (Melling) Chase winner Fakir D’oudairies in the Grade One contest at the Grand National Festival on his most recent start back in April.
Mac Tottie heads 47 entries for the Grand Sefton Chase at Aintree
The six-year-old, who is part-owned by former Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson, has been lightly-raced since his novice days when he also finished third in a Grade One Manifesto Novices’ Chase at Aintree. And although he has not won in five starts since victory at Newbury in March 2021, Hitman has generally run well including when second to Eldorado Allen in last year’s Haldon Gold Cup at Exeter.
Stable-mate Il Ridoto could also line-up at Aintree. The five-year-old was third another possible Old Roan Chase contender, the Michael Scudamore-trained Do Your Job, in the Grade Two Future Champions Novices’ Chase at Ayr in April, on his last start, having been eighth in the Grand Annual Chase at the Cheltenham Festival in March.
Do Your Job could make his seasonal return at Aintree bidding for a hat-trick of wins.
Trainer Dan Skelton won last year’s Old Roan Chase with Allmankind and could be represented by by Beakstown this time. Beakstown was last seen in action when fifth in a handicap chase at Sandown back in April, having landed his so far one and only success over fences in 11 starts in a Listed contest at Ayr in a Listed earlier that month.
The Richard Hobson-trained Riders Onthe Storm – who is owned by Merseysiders Carl Hinchy and Mark Scott – is a previous course and distance winner and he is also among the 11 entries for the Old Roan.
Two other course and distance winners – Dr Richard Newland’s Captain Tom Cat and the Alex Hales-trained Millers Bank – are also among the entries for Sunday’s feature contest.
Nigel Twiston-Davies’ One True King – a winner on his seasonal return at Market Rasen last month – could also line-up; while other entries include Jamie Snowden’s Ga Law, who hasn’t run for 603 days; his stable-mate and a winner at Haydock Park in March, Soldier Of Destiny; and Coconut Splash, from the Welsh stable of Everton FC fan Evan Williams.
Sunday’s seven-race card at Aintree starts with the opener, The Jewson Click and Collect Conditional Jockeys’ Handicap Hurdle, due off at 1.30pm and the finale, the Jewson Southport, Bispham Road EBF Mares’ Standard Open National Hunt Flat Race, is scheduled for 5.05pm.
Gates open at 11.30am and the afternoon is being billed as a Halloween Family Day with plenty of entertainment off the track as well as on it for families including a ghost train, haunted house, Halloween treasure trail and face painters.
Tickets cost £25 (although there are discounts for groups of 15 plus), while accompanied under-18s go free. There are also hospitality packages from £45 in the Platinum Lounge.
For more details and to buy tickets go online at https://www.thejockeyclub.co.uk/aintree/events-tickets/october-afternoon-racing/tickets/#filteredby=ga&tab=day1
Entries for the Jewson St Helens Old Roan Limited Handicap Chase (Grade Two) (2m4f) at Aintree Racecourse on Sunday, October 23
Beakstown (Dan Skelton)
Captain Tom Cat (Dr Richard Newland)
Coconut Splash (Evan Williams)
Do Your Job (Michael Scudamore)
Ga Law (Jamie Snowden)
Hitman (Paul Nicholls)
Il Ridoto (Paul Nicholls)
Millers Bank (Alex Hales)
One True King (Nigel Twiston-Davies)
Riders Onthe Storm (Richard Hobson)
Soldier Of Destiny (Jamie Snowden)
