We only have five lining up for this season, Old Roan Chase, but the five who are left look set to put on a show.

Over the past few years, this race has been ruined by the low-lying sun.

This means that all three fences in the homes can’t be jumped in the home straight, turning the race into somewhat of a bumper.

Nonetheless, two former Grade 1 winning chasers are lined up along with last season’s second, adding to the depth of the race.

But do not be surprised if a shock result occurs here, as three of the last four winners SP have been 25/1, 16/1, and 18/1.

Now, let’s take a more in-depth look at all five runners for the 2024 Old Roan Chase and the best online bookmakers to make your next bet a winning one.

Old Roan Chase – Runner by runner betting guide

Now it’s time to take a in-dept looking into runners of the Old Roan Chase and the best horse racing bookmakers to help you make a winning bet.

2 Stage Star

Age: 8

Form: 5/1P5-

Rating: 163

Jockey: Harry Cobden

Trainer: Paul Nicholls

Odds: 11/8

The former Grade 1 Turners Novices’ Chase winner at the 2023 Cheltenham Festival seems to have gone off the boil going on last season on his final two runs of the season.

He started with a faultless win in the Paddy Power Handicap Chase at last season’s Cheltenham November meeting. Still, he was pulled up on New Year’s Day back at Cheltenham when sent off an 11/10 favourite for the Paddy Power New Year’s Day Handicap Chase.

After that, he was given a break and sent to the Festival fresh, but he ran flat and only finished a well-beaten fifth in the Grade 1 Ryanair Chase.

If he were to buck the trend of his stable form, he would be a danger to all.

But given the stable’s current form, I would leave him run at the current price.

A former Grade 1 chase winner
Receives weight from Ahoy Senor
A good seasonal reappearance record

His trainer is out of form
Poor record at Aintree

Star Rating:

Bet on Stage Star with talkSPORT BET

4 Minella Drama

Age: 9

Form: 2372P-

Rating: 149

Jockey: Brian Hughes

Trainer: Donald McCain

Odds: 7/2

Minella Drama ran a big race in the 2023 of this to claim second position off a mark of 155.

He comes in here on a much-reduced mark of 148, which is two pounds lower than his last winning mark. That gives him a live chance of running another big race.

Like Ahoy Senor, Minella Drama has saved some of his best performances for Aintree.

He was last seen being pulled up in the Grade 1 Melling Chase, which Jonbon won, but before that, he was an excellent second to Thunder Rock in the Listed bet365 Premier Chase at Kelso (six lengths clear of the third).

This is sure to have been a main early season target for Minella Drama and he should be ready to go at the first time of asking.

The only worry is that if he uses his usual front-running tactics, he will have Ahoy Senor as company.

But overall, he has a solid chance of reaching the places again.

A good record at Aintree
Second in last year’s renewal
Off a much-reduced mark

Will be taken on for the lead
Still has it to find with the top two.

Star Rating:

Bet on Minella Drama with BetMGM

1 Ahoy Senor

Age: 9

Form: P4362-

Rating: 169

Jockey: Derek Fox

Trainer: Lucinda Russell

Odds: 9/2

There is no doubt that Aintree is where Ahoy Senor keeps his best performances.

In his four Grade 1 starts at Aintree, Ahoy Senor has won the Grade 1 Mildmay Novices’ Chase and is yet to finish outside the top three in the other three starts.

In the three times he has been beaten, he has chased home the Grand National winner Noble Yeats, multiple Grade 1 winner Shishkin, and the recent Gold Cup second, Gerri Colombe.

He rightly has the burden of top weight here, where he must concede up to 19 lbs to two of his rivals.

As we know, he has his own way of doing things and tends to leave his impression on a fence, but on a going day, he is a top-class chaser.

A slight concern would be his record when he is fresh. He has yet to win his first time out, with form figures of 2UR5PU4.

That is worrying, but given that he is now rising ten years old, Lucina Russell may have him more forward than usual to claim this early-season price on a track he loves.

If that is the cause, it may be worth taking a chance on Ahoy Senor to see if he can buck the trend.

Good course record in Grade 1s
A proper Grade 1 performer

Has to give away lumps of weight
Yet to win on seasonal return

Star rating:

Bet on Ahoy Senor with Spreadex

3 Hitman

Age: 8

Form: 09283-

Rating: 157

Jockey: Freddie Gingell

Trainer: Paul Nicholls

Odds: 9/2

Hitman has been a talking horse since he stepped onto a racecourse. But, for all the talking, he has only delivered three wins from 20 chase starts, with the last of those three wins coming in November of 2022 (Minella Drama third).

He was sent off as a 7/2 favourite for the 2023 running of the Old Roan Chase, but he finished 11th of 11, beaten 114 lengths. That is not the first time that his constitution has come into question.

It’s fair to say he has so much to find with Stage Star, let alone Ahoy Senor and the weight may not be enough to bring them closer.

There will come a time when he finds his level again, but I can’t see it being here.

In receipt of weight

A tailed-off favourite for the 2023 running of this
Hasn’t won in nearly two years

Star rating:

Bet on Hitman with VBET

5 Unexpected Party

Age: 9

Form: 5491P-

Rating: 149

Jockey: Harry Skelton

Trainer: Dan Skelton

Odds: 14/1

The outsider of the five runners, but would it be unexpected if Unexpected Party were to win?

Not necceserly

He was sent off 5/1 second favourite for the Paddy Power Gold Cup, which Stage Star won in November of last season. Unexpected Party was getting eight pounds off Stage Star that day, and he now receives 12 pounds from the same rival.

There was a considerable gap between them at Cheltenham, but with the likelihood that Unexpected Party will be primed for this early season target, it would not be the biggest shock in the world where he to outrun his big odd.

His odds might say he is out of contention, but he can be involved.

Likely to be primed for this
His two chase wins have come in fields with six runners or less

Can over race
There is a lot to find on ratings

Star Rating:

Bet on Unexpected Party with Copybet

Old Roan Chase verdict

This has the makings of a top Grade 2 chase, and let’s hope that all fences will be jumped. He may have to carry top weight here, but at the prices, AHOY SENOR is the one to be on the side of.

As mentioned, his course record speaks for itself, and given the probability that he will be more forward than usual for his seasonal return, he could be hard to stop around here.

If Stage Star were to run to his mark, then he would be a massive danger to all. But he may come on for the run with the form cloud hanging over Ditchit.

Minalla Drama looks the best of the rest.

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