Jetoile emerges as the unexpected champion in the thrilling Old Roan Chase
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ToggleThe Shocking Triumph of Jetoile at Aintree
Ryan Potter, an emerging talent in the training world, reached a milestone as his trainee, Jetoile, stunned everyone to claim a remarkable victory in the Jewson Fast Set Finish Old Roan Limited Handicap Chase at Aintree. With odds of 25-1, this unexpected win has caused quite a stir among racing enthusiasts.
Prior to this triumph, Jetoile had shown potential as a novice hurdler when finishing second to Constitution Hill in the Tolworth Hurdle. However, he struggled over fences last season and failed to impress. It wasn’t until spring that he managed to turn things around with two handicap wins at Chepstow.
A Surprising Performance on Merseyside
Jetoile arrived at Aintree for his toughest test yet over fences with a handicap mark of 146. Guided skillfully by jockey Daryl Jacob, he made stylish progress throughout the race while keeping long-time front-runner Minella Drama within reach.
In a unique twist during this eventful race where all the fences were bypassed in the home straight, Jetoile’s impeccable form shone through as he took control before reaching the winning post. With determined resolve and driven by Jacob’s expert handling, he secured an impressive one-and-three-quarter length victory over Donald McCain’s brave runner-up.
Favourites Fail While Dark Horse Shines
In what proved to be an unpredictable competition, both Hitman (7-2 favourite from Paul Nicholls’ stable) and My Drogo (trained by Dan Skelton) failed to make an impact on the race. Hitman, in particular, checked out tamely and finished last among the 11 runners.
According to Potter’s post-race interview, the team had always believed Jetoile possessed the potential to be among the top novice chasers in the country. However, a slip at Cheltenham affected his confidence and it took until the end of last season for him to regain his form. Despite being dismissed by bookmakers, Potter’s faith in Jetoile remained unwavering.
A Yard Superstar with a Bright Future
Potter expressed immense pride and emotion following this momentous win: “I ride him every day, and he has been working unbelievably at home. He is a yard superstar, and I will probably never have another horse like him.”
“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 set his sights on securing a second Grade Two prize by participating in the Fitzdares Peterborough Chase scheduled for December 10 at Huntingdon Racecourse.
Looking ahead, Potter stated, “He has two options – either go for the Peterborough Chase or compete in the December Gold Cup (at Cheltenham). Although my inclination leans toward entering him into Peterborough Chase, we are going to savor today’s victory before making any decisions.”
A Potential Rematch Awaits
If Jetoile does appear at Huntingdon, he could potentially face a rematch with Minella Drama, who performed exceptionally well and left trainer Donald McCain beaming with pride.
“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 think of having a go at something like that …”
Minella Drama’s ability to maintain exceptional performance puts him in good stead for future Grade One races. McCain believes his horse is capable of consistently securing high placings in such events.