April 09 / 14.55 Aintree

14.55

Good To Soft

Racing Welfare Bowl Chase (Grade 1) (GBB Race)

  • Prize money: £140325
  • 3m 0f 210y
  • Class 1
  • 5 runners
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Racing Welfare Bowl Chase (Grade 1) (GBB Race)

Runners: 5 runners

Type: Chase Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Light rain

5/6 (Won)

  • Win: £2.00
  • Place: £1.30

Form: 13-142 C BF

Last run: 27 days

W: 11st 10lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 167

Form & Verdict
Kept on for close third to Impaire Et Passe in the 2m4f Manifesto here 12 months ago and has improved for longer trips this season; very close fourth in thrilling finish to the King George at Kempton (3m, good) in December and 8l second in the Gold Cup at Cheltenham (3m2f, good to soft) last month; leading claims if that hard race 27 days ago hasn't left a mark.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

2

9th Apr 2026

Good To Soft

3m 0f 210y

Class 1

14:55 Aintree

Jango Baie

11st 10lb

J: Nico de Boinville

T: Nicky Henderson

Kept on for close third to Impaire Et Passe in the 2m4f Manifesto here 12 months ago and has improved for longer trips this season; very close fourth in thrilling finish to the King George at Kempton (3m, good) in December and 8l second in the Gold Cup at Cheltenham (3m2f, good to soft) last month; leading claims if that hard race 27 days ago hasn't left a mark.

5/6

2nd

8

13th Mar 2026

Good

3m 2f 70y

Class 1

16:00 Cheltenham

Jango Baie

11st 10lb

J: Nico de Boinville

T: Nicky Henderson

Came from behind to win the Arkle here (2m, good to soft) 12 months ago and, as could be anticipated, was well suited by the step up to 3m when a very close fourth behind The Jukebox Man and Gaelic Warrior in the King George at Kempton (3m, good) in December; of the four involved in that thrilling finish he arguably shaped as the one most likely to improve for today's stiffer test; seems versatile ground-wise; could play a leading role.

4/1

3rd

6

3rd Apr 2025

Good To Soft

2m 3f 200y

Class 1

13:45 Aintree

Jango Baie

11st 7lb

J: Nico de Boinville

T: Nicky Henderson

Short-headed in Grade 1 Scilly Isles at Sandown (2m4f, heavy) in February on second chase start and rallied from a very unpromising position to win the Arkle at Cheltenham (2m, good to soft) last month; unraced on good ground; ran big races over hurdles on both visits here and he's a leading contender with the step back up in trip likely to be in his favour.

9/4

15/2

  • Place: £2.00

Form: 42-311 CD

Last run: 40 days

W: 11st 10lb

11 yo Gelding

OR: 165

Form & Verdict
11yo whose last Grade 1 win came in March 2024 but he showed strong form when keeping on for second of four to Jonbon in the Melling Chase here (2m4f, good) 12 months ago and has won at Windsor (2m6f, soft; warm conditions race) and Kelso (extended 2m7f, good to soft; Listed) on his two runs this year; he should still be fine at this sort of trip and could be a contender.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

4

9th Apr 2026

Good To Soft

3m 0f 210y

Class 1

14:55 Aintree

Protektorat

11st 10lb

J: Harry Skelton

T: Dan Skelton

11yo whose last Grade 1 win came in March 2024 but he showed strong form when keeping on for second of four to Jonbon in the Melling Chase here (2m4f, good) 12 months ago and has won at Windsor (2m6f, soft; warm conditions race) and Kelso (extended 2m7f, good to soft; Listed) on his two runs this year; he should still be fine at this sort of trip and could be a contender.

15/2

1st

3

28th Feb 2026

Good To Soft

2m 7f 96y

Class 1

13:40 Kelso

Protektorat

11st 2lb

J: Harry Skelton

T: Dan Skelton

Tremendous campaigner who has netted connections over £1m in prize-money; jumped right on occasions but was still firmly on top at finish in valuable conditions chase at Windsor (2m6f, soft) six weeks ago; usually races up with the pace; the clear pick on form and very much the one to beat.

1/8

1st

6

18th Jan 2026

Soft

2m 6f 50y

Class 2

15:00 Windsor

Protektorat

11st 2lb

J: Harry Skelton

T: Dan Skelton

Bolted up in this race last year (soft); reappeared with very creditable third off a lofty mark in handicap at Cheltenham (3m3f, soft) in November; wind surgery since; this 11yo holds stand-out claims on today's terms.

8/11

OUR TIP

Form: 1P-232 C

Last run: 54 days

W: 11st 10lb

11 yo Gelding

OR: 162

Form & Verdict
11yo who looked as good as ever when runner-up in a captivating battle with Jonbon in the Ascot Chase (2m5f, good to soft) in February, when bidding to win that Grade 1 for the third consecutive year; won the Grade 1 Melling Chase here (2m4f, soft) in 2023; seemed fine at 3m when 1l second in this season's Charlie Hall (good) and his trainer has won this race six times; no surprise to see a bold bid from this front-runner, who is not ruled out.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

3

9th Apr 2026

Good To Soft

3m 0f 210y

Class 1

14:55 Aintree

Pic DOrhy

11st 10lb

J: Harry Cobden

T: Paul Nicholls

11yo who looked as good as ever when runner-up in a captivating battle with Jonbon in the Ascot Chase (2m5f, good to soft) in February, when bidding to win that Grade 1 for the third consecutive year; won the Grade 1 Melling Chase here (2m4f, soft) in 2023; seemed fine at 3m when 1l second in this season's Charlie Hall (good) and his trainer has won this race six times; no surprise to see a bold bid from this front-runner, who is not ruled out.

14/1

2nd

6

14th Feb 2026

Soft

2m 5f 13y

Class 1

15:35 Ascot

Pic DOrhy

11st 10lb

J: Harry Cobden

T: Paul Nicholls

Smart front-runner whose record of 5-9 over fences at Ascot features emphatic wins in this race for the last two years (good/good to soft; has scored on soft); had excuses (soon taken on for lead, race possibly came too soon after reappearance) over C&D in November when last seen, failing to land the 1965 Chase for a third time; perhaps best caught fresh nowadays and, assuming he's able to dominate, commands respect in another hat-trick attempt.

7/4

2

1st Nov 2025

Good

3m 0f 45y

Class 1

14:57 Wetherby

Pic DOrhy

11st 10lb

J: Harry Cobden

T: Paul Nicholls

Multiple Grade 2 chase winner who has also won three Grade 1s (good-soft), the latest being the 2m5f Ascot Chase in February; this 10yo is unproven beyond that trip and unraced over 3m, but there's every chance he'll stay and he goes well fresh; key player under 6lb penalty if seeing it out.

9/2

Form: 31-B1P C

Last run: 28 days

W: 11st 10lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 160

Form & Verdict
Unproven at this trip and reportedly never travelling when pulled up in the Ryanair at Cheltenham last month; however, he's won at this meeting in each of the last two seasons, landing the Grade 1 Manifesto Novices' Chase last April (2m4f, good to soft; Jango Baie third), and he produced a top performance in the Grade 2 Red Mills Chase at Gowran Park this February; could bounce back with big run for last year's winning trainer Willie Mullins.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1

9th Apr 2026

Good To Soft

3m 0f 210y

Class 1

14:55 Aintree

Impaire Et Passe

11st 10lb

J: Paul Townend

T: W P Mullins

Unproven at this trip and reportedly never travelling when pulled up in the Ryanair at Cheltenham last month; however, he's won at this meeting in each of the last two seasons, landing the Grade 1 Manifesto Novices' Chase last April (2m4f, good to soft; Jango Baie third), and he produced a top performance in the Grade 2 Red Mills Chase at Gowran Park this February; could bounce back with big run for last year's winning trainer Willie Mullins.

7/2

5

12th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 4f 127y

Class 1

16:00 Cheltenham

Impaire Et Passe

11st 10lb

J: Paul Townend

T: W P Mullins

A fine hurdler whose three Grade 1 wins included the Ballymore at this meeting in 2023; has reached the same standard over fences, winning at the top level at Aintree (about 2m4f, good to soft; first-time cheekpieces) last April, and he was ultimately quite convincing in a tactical race at Gowran (about 2m3f, heavy) last month; his form doesn't yet match that of stablemate Fact To File but he is considered for a place.

7/1

Form: 5-2931 D

Last run: 75 days

W: 11st 10lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 164

Form & Verdict
Won two Grade 1s in Ireland in spring 2024 during novice chase campaign (2m4f/3m1f, heavy/yielding) and posted first win since in the Grade 2 Cotswold Chase at Cheltenham (3m1f, soft) this January; he was receiving 6lb from close runner-up L'Homme Presse last time and others in this have achieved more, but he's only eight and could still have improvement to come.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5

9th Apr 2026

Good To Soft

3m 0f 210y

Class 1

14:55 Aintree

Spillanes Tower

11st 10lb

J: Mark Walsh

T: James Joseph Mangan

Won two Grade 1s in Ireland in spring 2024 during novice chase campaign (2m4f/3m1f, heavy/yielding) and posted first win since in the Grade 2 Cotswold Chase at Cheltenham (3m1f, soft) this January; he was receiving 6lb from close runner-up L'Homme Presse last time and others in this have achieved more, but he's only eight and could still have improvement to come.

5/1

1st

4

24th Jan 2026

Soft

3m 1f 56y

Class 1

14:25 Cheltenham

Spillanes Tower

11st 4lb

J: Jack Kennedy

T: James Joseph Mangan

Won two Grade 1s as a novice chaser, including over 3m1f at Punchestown in April 2024; no match for Galopin Des Champs in Punchestown Gold Cup 12 months later and he's been campaigned over shorter trips and hurdles since (not disgraced back at Punchestown on New Year's Eve); not easy to pin down but he should be suited by this return to fences and 3m+.

100/30

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £5.10
Straight Forecast £6.42
Trifecta £16.40

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Jango Baie

The Sun:

Spillane's Tower

The Guardian:

Protektorat

The Star:

Impaire Et Passe

RP RATINGS:

Jango Baie

TOPSPEED:

Jango Baie

POSTDATA:

Jango Baie

LAMBOURN:

Jango Baie

The Times:

Jango Baie

Telegraph:

Jango Baie

Daily Mail:

Jango Baie

D Express:

Jango Baie

Daily Record:

Spillane's Tower

Daily Mirror:

Protektorat