Old Roan Chase Preview: Saint Can Stay If Aintree Ground Turns

The Old Roan Chase is the feature on Aintree's Sunday card and, as ever, it is a fascinating early-season test for a smart bunch of chasers. A field of 13 go to post for this Grade 2 limited handicap over 2m4f at 3pm, and the chase course is currently described as good to soft, good in places.

Boombawn heads the market at 7/2 with BoyleSports for Dan Skelton, who saddles four of the 13, but I am happy to take him on with a horse who has every chance of seeing out this trip strongly.

Although not known for his winning exploits, Hitman did have his day in the sun here 12 months ago. The ten-year-old's career strike rate is not good, but he does usually run well in this race and will cope with conditions off 1lb lower than his winning mark from last year. He is the automatic place to start off.

This is a surprisingly deep field for this race though and Dan Skelton runs a quartet. Chief among those is Boombawn, who is a whopping 10lb lower than when fourth, and not beaten far, behind Hitman a year ago. However, any rain may scupper his chance, which is also the case for the aptly-named Riskintheground and stable newcomer Matterhorn. Etalon has potential, but tends to do his winning going right-handed.

Handicap debutant Wendigo and regular Aintree attendee Imperial Saint are close challengers for favouritism. The former ran no race here at the Grand National meeting, but every drop of rain will do him a favour. That is also the case for strong stayer Imperial Saint, who would ideally want further nowadays, but has won over course and distance.

Both Prairie Wolf and Bluey are improvers towards the foot of the handicap here. The first-named has questions to answer on soft, but the latter copes with any going and did not stop progressing in her novice chase campaign. She is only 3lb above her last winning mark.

The weights are headed by Twiston-Davies pair Matata and Master Chewy. Matata ended last season under a cloud but has slipped to a tempting mark again. Master Chewy was second here last year and is now 4lb lower, but had wind surgery twice during his previous campaign, which raises doubts.

Teddy Blue won a good race at Kempton last season, but is harshly handicapped even on his best achievements. Nick Scholfield, meanwhile, has taken up the training of Insurrection, who is well-treated at his best, but that did not shine through last season.

Overall, the one who ticks the most boxes is IMPERIAL SAINT. He was disappointing in this race 12 months ago, but is a three-time course winner who stays further and copes with softening underfoot conditions. He has also twice won fresh, so can hopefully prove last season's reappearance here was a blip.