There are three meetings scheduled across Britain and Ireland on Sunday, with National Hunt fare holding sway. 

Aintree’s first meeting of the new season is the central attraction, and they are joined by Wincanton and Galway on an all-jumps afternoon.

Our Sunday tips include Tommy’s Oscar for Ann Hamilton in the Old Roan at Aintree.

14:00 Aintree – Tommy’s Oscar @ 9/2

The Grade 2 Old Roan Chase, a handicap, is always the feature contest as racing returns to Aintree for the start of a new season and it is fair to suggest this latest renewal looks a cracker on paper.

Last year’s second Hitman is back for another go for Paul Nicholls and Harry Cobden, rated 1lb lower now but, once more, carrying 11st 12lb top-weight. 

The long-absent My Drogo has not been spotted since scoring around Cheltenham in December 2021 on his second chasing start for Dan and Harry Skelton (he was set to win when he fell in a match-race there previously). He’s intriguing and could be very exciting this season, but he does have that 687-day absence to defy.

Recent Chepstow winner Al Dancer and Datsalrightgino are another two to consider but this might set up quite well for Tommy’s Oscar as he looks to justify inclusion on the Most Napped table via the Betfred Betfinder. 

Ann Hamilton’s charge was a smart hurdler, just shy of Grade 1 level, and posted a good first season over fences last season with figures of 12212. 

He looked to be on fine terms with himself when readily winning at Kelso (2m1f, good to soft) last month on his comeback and he’s open to further progress this term. He’s unexposed at this distance too and his style of racing will suit Aintree so he’s got a lively chance in this Betfred Extra Place Race (four places).

14:54 Wincanton – Lowry’s Bar @ 6/1

The Anlore Haulage & Plant Ltd Maiden Hurdle at Wincanton will see Panjari going off a short-price favourite for Paul Nicholls and Bryony Frost but he was even shorter recently at Chepstow and didn’t handle the preliminaries too well, blunting his ability in the race itself. He’s got a hood on now and will have to take things more in this stride, which of course he may do.

Philip Hobbs runs a trio in the race and the one that could be interesting is Lowry’s Bar in the hands of Ben Jones. 

He finished second-best in his only start in an Irish point-to-point back in the early spring and that contest stands up to some scrutiny now. The Hobbs team are in good order recently and while his future may ultimately lie over longer trips, he could be in the mix on this racecourse bow.

15:45 Aintree – General Officer @ 4/1

Dan Skelton’s Pembroke is favourite for the Jewson St Helens Novices’ Limited Handicap Chase but he didn’t have any obvious excuse when second on chasing at Uttoxeter last month in a race where only two competed. 

He now must concede a stone to General Officer and the Donald McCain-trained six-year-old has good claims under Brian Hughes.

He put together some good performances last season as a novice hurdler before coming up shy in a Grade 2 at Kelso in March.

His comeback/chasing bow at Hexham (1m7½f, soft) was a pleasing effort and while he couldn’t peg back Chapel Green late on, he was conceding weight there and the form has since been boosted by the third scoring at Carlisle this week.

General Officer looked like he might be well held at Hexham when headed approaching the last, but he stuck to his challenge and he should be sharper for that. He can go one better now on the revised terms with Chapel Green.