Minella Drama makes all to record biggest win of his career in Old Roan Chase

Minella Drama: won the Old Roan ChaseCredit: GROSSICK RACING

Last year’s runner-up Minella Drama went one better to land the Old Roan Chase for Donald McCain.

The nine-year-old chased home Jetoile in the limited handicap 12 months ago when all three of the fences in the home straight were omitted due to low sun and improved on that result in a more conventional contest when all obstacles were jumped.

Minella Drama made all under Brian Hughes to give the rider his third win in the race after victories on Forest Bihan in 2019 and Riders Onthe Storm in 2022.

Minella Drama was competing off a 6lb lower mark than last year and scored by a length and three-quarters from Hitman, who filled the same position as when runner-up in the £80,000 event in 2022.

Ahoy Senor stayed on to finish third under Derek Fox while 2-1 favourite Stage Star, who had been pulled up and finished last at the Grand National meeting on his two most recent visits to Aintree, again performed below market expectations at the track in fourth. Grand Annual winner Unexpected Party was last of the five runners, who were all making their seasonal debuts.

Hughes’s previous wins in the race were for Brian Ellison and Richard Hobson and the three-time champion jockey was delighted to provide his main supporter in McCain with his first success in the 2m4f feature contest.

“This guy's been our flagship horse for a few years now and he deserves it,” Hughes told Racing TV. “He’s been placed in this race and a Melling Chase, so it’s great he gets his day in the sun.

“He’s a handy horse and he’s always had 11st 7lb upwards, it’s the first time with 10st 6lb on his back, so we sort of fancied his chances off the way he ran here last year.

“It’s a good race to win and I wouldn't mind a few more like him.”

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