Old Roan Chase Tips: One Last Chance For Ahoy Senor

The Old Roan Chase is one of the early-season highlights at Aintree, and Billy Grimshaw is on hand to preview the 2025 renewal for us. The race always throws up talking points, and with several returning stars clashing on Merseyside, it promises to be a fascinating contest...

The race always provides a pointer to the months ahead, and this year’s edition looks no different. Minella Drama returns to defend his crown, having won last year’s renewal in determined style, but he faces a tough task giving weight to a few progressive rivals. Donald McCain’s charge is always at his best when fresh, and Aintree clearly brings out the best in him, though he may find it harder to dictate from the front this time.

Boombawn represents the Dan Skelton team and arrives after a consistent campaign last year that included a strong spring run at Ayr. He’s the sort to travel sweetly and pounce late if the leaders overdo it, and his jumping usually stands up well in these competitive fields. The pace angle looks interesting, with Minella Drama likely to press forward, while Hitman and AHOY SENOR could both be handy, ensuring there’s no hiding place from the outset.

Paul Nicholls’ Hitman remains something of an enigma. He’s talented, versatile, and has mixed it with the best, but he’s yet to fully convince that he’s a natural battler when things get tough. Nicholls has won this race four times before, though, and Hitman’s cascading mark leaves him dangerous if he’s tuned up first time out. Master Chewy adds further intrigue as a solid improver from the Twiston-Davies yard. He’s already shown he can handle deep company, but this marks a real step up, and how he copes with the pressure of seasoned chasers will tell plenty about his ceiling.

Imperial Saint shouldn’t be underestimated either, having shown strong Aintree form and the ability to pick up pieces late if the pace collapses. That blend of reliability and stamina has seen him solidify as a warm favourite, and for all I like the horse I could not be recommending backing him in a field this deep at sub 2/1.

I may be cursing myself for this in a few hours time, but it is AHOY SENOR who commands most interest. Lucinda Russell’s stable star was the victim of a rare poor Derek Fox ride in this race last year, travelling strongly into contention from much further back than he usually races before an untimely blunder two out halted all momentum. Despite that, he rallied to finish a close third, confirming his love for this track and trip. His record at Aintree reads superbly, with two Grade 1 victories to his name, and he often saves his best efforts for this course.

The key question with him has always been rhythm - when he jumps fluently, few can live with him. In past seasons he has always been aiming for the top of the mountain, the Cheltenham Gold Cup, but this season surely Lucinda will pick her battles with him and be all guns blazing to win this valuable pot at the track he loves most.

Russell’s team are in sparkling form, as was shown by Conman John winning as he liked at Cheltenham yesterday in these colours. Ahoy Senor should be fit, focused, and fresh so if on song his natural cruising speed will allow Derek Fox to sit prominently before turning the screw down the straight.

On balance, the combination of proven class, course affinity, and stable confidence make him the standout at double figure odds in a competitive renewal. If he jumps cleanly, it’s hard to see past him righting last year’s wrong and landing the Old Roan like he should have done in 2024. He is 10 now which will concern many, but if they all turn up at their peak he is comfortably the best horse here so we are getting enough juice in the price against that age related negative.