Jetoile surprises Old Roan rivals at Aintree

25-1 shot takes Grade Two feature.

Ryan Potter registered the biggest victory of his training career as Jetoile ran out a shock 25-1 winner of the Jewson Fast Set Finish Old Roan Limited Handicap Chase at Aintree.

Second to Constitution Hill in the Tolworth Hurdle as a novice, the son of Jeremy had disappointed over fences in the main last season before turning his campaign around with a pair of handicap victories at Chepstow in the spring.

That saw him arrive on Merseyside off a mark of 146 for his stiffest test to date over fences and he proved more than up to the task in the hands of Daryl Jacob.

Ryan Potter trains Jetoile
Ryan Potter trains Jetoile (Simon Marper/PA)

In a race that saw all of the fences in the home straight bypassed, Jetoile made stylish progress to stalk long-time front runner Minella Drama after the final jumping test and having edged his way to the front with the winning post approaching, was driven out for a one-and-three-quarter-length victory over Donald McCain’s brave runner-up.

Al Dancer kept on gamely for third, but both the Paul Nicholls-trained 7-2 favourite Hitman and Dan Skelton’s My Drogo failed to make their presence felt, with the former checking out tamely and finishing last of the 11 runners.

Potter said: “At the start of last season we thought he was going to be one of the top novice chasers in the country. He slipped at Cheltenham and he lost his confidence and it took him until the end of season to get it back. I know he didn’t beat loads, but he was so impressive at Chepstow.

“I’m under no illusions that a lot of these big yards will be using this race as a stepping stone, but I had him ready for today as I felt it was a great opportunity so I had him fit. The bookmakers might have dismissed his chances but I didn’t.

“I ride him every day and he has been working unbelievable at home. He is a yard superstar and I will probably never have another one like him. I’m only in my third season training and this is extraordinary. I’m nearly crying.

“This has been since the target since the day we turned him out after winning at Chepstow. I’m hoping because the fences were out that the handicapper won’t be so hard on him as if the fences were in he would have won easier. All he does is jump and travel. The fences being out has hopefully done us a favour with the handicapper.”

Jetoile could now bid for a second Grade Two prize in the Fitzdares Peterborough Chase at Huntingdon on December 10.

Potter added: “He has to either go for the Peterborough Chase or the December Gold Cup (at Cheltenham). If I was a lot bolder I would have put an entry in for the Paddy Power Gold Cup, but I didn’t want to get ahead of myself.

“I’d say at this moment in time we will probably go for the Peterborough Chase, but we will enjoy today.”

If Jetoile runs at Huntingdon, he could face a rematch with Minella Drama, who delighted McCain on his seasonal return.

Minella Drama could also look to the Peterborough Chase
Minella Drama could also look to the Peterborough Chase (Mike Egerton/PA)

He said: “He is a wonderful little racehorse. He is a bit wild, and Brian (Hughes) makes it look a lot more simple than it is.

“You would have to think the way he was going around when they were jumping that he would have won. It is a great start to the season, and we will have to try to let him have his big day somewhere.

“He is the type of horse that we believe will always run well to be placed in a Grade One as he always runs his race.

“His ideal scenario would be running between two and a half miles and two and three-quarter miles, going right-handed on slow ground.

“You have the Peterborough Chase, and those sorts of races, so we would have to have think of having a go at something like that.

“He takes some managing, but he is a wonderful racehorse and he always gives his best.”

Follow us on Twitter racing365dotcom and like our Facebook page.

Latest