Old Roan Chase 2012

3.30 Aintree

Betfred Monet's Garden Old Roan Chase (Grade 2 Limited Handicap) (Class 1)  (4YO plus)

Winner £37,018

Advice: 1 pt win Noble Prince (11/2 general), 1 pt win For Non Stop (11/2 general)

Wishfull Thinking: Looked set for stardom at the end of novice campaign (which included 4 Graded wins, including a 10 lengths C&D Grade 2 romp here) but best efforts were second in season blighted by poor form last year (although breathing issues didn’t help him, and he has had 3 operations for that); If back to best this time around, must have big chance even off topweight.

Nacarat: Top class chaser coming towards backend of season, usually at 3m these days as his two Racing Plus Chases and 2011 Betfair Bowl win show; Well beaten on seasonal reappearance on first start last year and while he can front run at this trip, others preferred.

Gauvain: Peterborough Chase winner last year in very convincing style and very useful fresh, having won first time out in each of the last two seasons; Mark of 159 same he got for Peterborough Chase win so very fairly handicapped and interesting for Phillip Hobbs.

Noble Prince: Another former winner of the Jewson Novices who did well last season despite only winning once, finding Big Zeb just too good over inadequate 2 miles on two occasions before being injured in Ryanair Chase (pre Festival defeat came on ground far too soft for him); Relishes this trip and ground (two of three chase wins come on this surface, while 5 of eight over this trip) so must come into the reckoning here.

For Non Stop: Made into a classy novice chaser last season, notably when pushing Al Ferof all the way in Sandown Grade 2 Novice Chase although Scilly Isles win is also strong form and third to Gold Cup favourite Sir Des Champs reads very well in this context; This a bit tougher than that bet been lightly weighted considering and ha to be high on the list.

Hector’s Choice: Made a winning reappearance on this card last year and went from strength to strength since in handicaps, best efforts coming in mid-winter before his strong end of season win at April at Cheltenham; Should go well once again and can’t be dismissed.

Stagecoach Pearl: Reliable at his level wand was right there in handicaps last season, winning at Kelso and coming second and third at Doncaster and Wetherby, all at 2m or threreabouts; This a much more testing contest and may not stay.

Pacha Du Polder: Much hype about him as he came to top yard off the back of 9 length Chasing win and now 3-5 over fences here, although can’t help but feel that he’s failed his two toughest tests so far (only fifth in Grade 2 at Ascot, and going backwards when falling in race won well by For Non Stop); To be fair Grade 2 win at Ayr was very impressive and can offer more this season, for all that this is his toughest test yet.

Mad Max: Tons of potential and evident ability based on novice days but gone backwards and not been the easiest to train; Went like something still there when third behind Giorgio Quercus last year and better ground should really suit, but has to be

Giorgio Quercus: Wide margin  winner of a 21f minor event at Haydock in January on heavy ground (Mad Max, making return from layoff, well behind in third) but didn’t go on from that twice on better ground and hard to recommend.

Mahaogany Blaze: Third in cheekpieces at Market Rasen (2¾m) in September shows that he retains some of the ability that saw him rated as highly as 151, but not won since April 2008; Others preferred.

VERDICT: A cracking renewal which wouldn't be out of place as a standalone Graded chase. Sever have claims for differing reasons and any one of 7 can realistically win it  but NOBLE PRINCE’S liking for this trip and ground give him the vote, with all of his best performances having come with a sounder surface. Second season chases don’t have the great record in this but the weight that FOR NON STOP receives from his elders gives him a big shout if ready to go and he makes the most appeal of the others, although Philip Hobbs has a  very strong hand with the best fresh Gauvain and topweight Wishfull Thinking. Pacha Du Polder has been tipped for big things this year but failed his two stiffest tasks.