Hitman secures emotional Old Roan victory at Aintree

Hitman, the horse named after the late Ricky Hatton, was a poignant winner at Aintree as he went one better than 12 months ago in the William Hill Old Roan Limited Handicap Chase.

Second to Donald McCain’s reopposing Minella Drama last year, the nine-year-old, who is part owned by Hatton’s fellow Mancunian Ged Mason and Sir Alex Ferguson amongst others, is a regular on Merseyside and was also runner-up in 2022 and beaten favourite when misfiring in 2023.

However, he made no mistake at the fourth time of asking in this race under an inspired Freddie Gingell, who did not miss a beat aboard the course regular and always travelled like the winner before sealing victory with a fantastic leap at the last when clear of runner-up Master Chewy.

Hitman was giving Nicholls a record fourth win in the race, joining the likes of Ditcheat great Kauto Star (2006) and Frodon (2018) on the roll of honour, with connections confirming the winning prize-money will be donated to the newly-created Ricky Hatton Foundation.

Nicholls told the PA news agency: “Ged bought him because of his friendship with Ricky ‘The Hitman’ Hatton and to go and win that today, with Ged giving the winnings to the charity, is absolutely brilliant.

“For Ged, Sir Alex, Peter Done and Paul Hogarth, they put so much into racing and support myself so well and the big winners like this really count. Especially with the Hitman link to Ricky, this couldn’t have come together better and I’m just thrilled for everybody with the result.

“I knew he was well and he had been really well at home. He loves that track and the race and Freddie gave him a fantastic ride. Sometimes he’s been a bit of a bridesmaid but he was never getting beat today once I saw him turn into the straight.

“It’s great for Freddie as he needs to get on and ride some of these big winners having been champion conditional and he’s in the next phase of his career now. It’s good to see him do that on a day when Harry (Cobden) was elsewhere.”

He added: “Where he is going to go now, I have no idea. I entered him in the Sefton over the National fences at the next Aintree meeting and that may come a bit soon, but we’ll think of something.”

It was an emotional afternoon for Mason, who sponsored Hatton early in his boxing career and sought out the gelding in his younger days after spotting his name amongst the winners in France.

Mason said: “He did that for Ricky up there. Ricky was a top, top man who helped so many people. Do speak out if you have got problems – that is what his message would be today.

“I am absolutely delighted that we can help Ricky’s memory and legacy in some way. The family have set up the foundation and all of Hitman’s proceeds are going to it, kicking off today. He has won an amazing amount of prize-money for finishing second but today all guns were out.

“Hopefully Ricky is looking down and smiling at us. As we have said, nobody needs to fight alone – there are a lot of people with problems, and you’ve just got to share your problems with other people. Hopefully the foundation will be a vehicle for people to do that.”

Hitman was Nicholls’ third victory of the afternoon after a double at the other jumps fixture at Fontwell, via impressive 15-length scorer Brave Knight and Twinjets.