April 13 / 14.55 Aintree

14.55

Good To Soft

Alder Hey Aintree Bowl Chase (Grade 1) (GBB Race)

  • Prize money: £140325
  • 3m 0f 210y
  • Class 1
  • 6 runners
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Alder Hey Aintree Bowl Chase (Grade 1) (GBB Race)

Runners: 6 runners

Type: Chase Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Light rain

OUR TIP

15/8 (Won)

  • Win: £2.75
  • Place: £1.40

Form: 1P-312 C BF

Last run: 28 days

W: 11st 10lb

9 yo Gelding

OR: 173

Form & Verdict
Has been a real powerhouse at 2m, including two Cheltenham Festival wins and a Grade 1 novice success here (in 2021); bounced back from a couple of notable flops to win the Ascot Chase impressively on his first crack at 2m5f, then put in an awkward round of jumping and tended to hang when favourite for the Ryanair at Cheltenham but finished with some purpose and grabbed second place close home; reinventing himself again and this new trip looks likely to suit on recent evidence; tongue-tie (fitted on last two starts) is now discarded; class act when everything goes smoothly.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

6

11th Apr 2024

Soft

3m 0f 210y

Class 1

14:55 Aintree

Shishkin

11st 10lb

J: Nico de Boinville

T: Nicky Henderson

Won this last year (good to soft); refused to race on reappearance (his sole outing in cheekpieces); may well have won the Grade 1 King George at Kempton (3m, good) in December but for stumbling/unseating just after two out; ready Grade 2 win at Newbury (2m7f, heavy) in February; didn't run in last month's Gold Cup due to an unsatisfactory scope and there remains a question mark regarding the form of the stable, but he's a key player if at his best.

5/2

4th

6

11th Apr 2024

Soft

3m 0f 210y

Class 1

14:55 Aintree

Shishkin

11st 10lb

J: Nico de Boinville

T: Nicky Henderson

Won this last year (good to soft); refused to race on reappearance (his sole outing in cheekpieces); may well have won the Grade 1 King George at Kempton (3m, good) in December but for stumbling/unseating just after two out; ready Grade 2 win at Newbury (2m7f, heavy) in February; didn't run in last month's Gold Cup due to an unsatisfactory scope and there remains a question mark regarding the form of the stable, but he's a key player if at his best.

5/2

1st

2

10th Feb 2024

Soft

2m 7f 86y

Class 1

14:05 Newbury

Shishkin

11st 8lb

J: Nico de Boinville

T: Nicky Henderson

jumped left on occasions, raced in second, not fluent 3rd, not fluent 13th, pressed leader after 4 out, led 3 out, soon faced challenge, not fluent last, ridden and kept on well run-in

4/6

9/4

  • Place: £1.70

Form: -5351F CD

Last run: 27 days

W: 11st 10lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 166

Form & Verdict
Made the running until falling six out in the Cheltenham Gold Cup; his jumping remains haphazard at times but he's high class on his day and is now bidding for an Aintree festival hat-trick, having won Grade 1 novice events (hurdles/fences; on good to soft) at this meeting for the last two years; respected back here.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

12th

1

1st Feb 2026

Good To Soft

2m 7f 180y

Class 2

15:40 Musselburgh

Ahoy Senor

12st 0lb

J: Derek Fox

T: Lucinda Russell & Michael Scudamore

Very much the class act in this field but he's become hugely frustrating as a chaser and tailed off (after making the running) when he reverted to hurdles in a Grade 2 at Newbury on latest outing; thrown in if he can even remotely get his act together.

14/1

1

26th Oct 2025

Good

2m 3f 200y

Class 1

14:55 Aintree

Ahoy Senor

11st 12lb

J: Derek Fox

T: Lucinda Russell & Michael Scudamore

10yo who was underwhelming in the main last season and soundly beaten in the Grade 1 Bowl here in April, having finished runner-up in the previous two runnings of that 3m contest; a longer trip than this would probably be preferable but he's 7lb lower than when a close third in this last year and is well worth a second look in view of his record at this track.

13/2

5th

1

3rd Apr 2025

Good To Soft

3m 0f 210y

Class 1

14:55 Aintree

Ahoy Senor

11st 10lb

J: Patrick Wadge

T: Lucinda Russell

Comes with some risk having failed to complete in his last three starts (had wind surgery prior to latest); however, comes alive at Aintree and has performed well in this race for the last two years, taking form figures at this meeting to 1122 (gained the wins in Grade 1 novice events over hurdles/fences); big player provided that pattern is sustained.

6/1

Form: 121-PP D

Last run: 27 days

W: 11st 10lb

9 yo Gelding

OR: 175

Form & Verdict
Has a question to answer having been pulled up in both outings this term, although had no luck (badly hampered after six out, unable to recover) in the Cheltenham Gold Cup on latest; highly impressive in that race and the Betfair Chase last season, both on good to soft; would have the best chance if surging back to that form.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

1

28th Dec 2023

Yielding

3m 0f 100y

14:25 Leopardstown

A Plus Tard

11st 10lb

J: Rachael Blackmore

T: Henry De Bromhead

Beaten a short head by Galvin in this race two seasons ago as a prelude to 15l victory from stablemate Minella Indo in the 2021 Cheltenham Gold Cup; ran only three times last season, pulled up in the Betfair Chase and Cheltenham Gold Cup; found nothing at Aintree on final start; begins new campaign with questions to answer.

14/1

3rd

2

13th Apr 2023

Good To Soft

3m 0f 210y

Class 1

14:55 Aintree

A Plus Tard

11st 10lb

J: Rachael Blackmore

T: Henry De Bromhead

Has a question to answer having been pulled up in both outings this term, although had no luck (badly hampered after six out, unable to recover) in the Cheltenham Gold Cup on latest; highly impressive in that race and the Betfair Chase last season, both on good to soft; would have the best chance if surging back to that form.

5/2

2

17th Mar 2023

Soft

3m 2f 70y

Class 1

15:30 Cheltenham

A Plus Tard

11st 10lb

J: Rachael Blackmore

T: Henry De Bromhead

Two brilliant wins at this meeting, notably surpassing a second in this race in 2021 when tearing up the hill last March (good to soft; acts well on soft) for one of the best Gold Cup performances in recent times; seen only once since, when returning a sick horse from his first-ever off day at Haydock in November, and although recent reports are encouraging it would be pretty special if he can produce the same performance as 12 months ago after such a poor preparation.

9/2

Form: 14-112 D

Last run: 27 days

W: 11st 10lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 172

Form & Verdict
Bit to prove back at Aintree having suffered short-priced defeats behind Ahoy Senor at this meeting in 2021 and 2022; highly progressive otherwise and ran admirably behind the outstanding Galopin Des Champs in a cracking Cheltenham Gold Cup most recently, having bagged the King George three months earlier; huge player provided he maintains that level of form.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

15th

13

5th Apr 2025

Good To Soft

4m 2f 74y

Class 1

16:00 Aintree

Bravemansgame

11st 0lb

J: James Reveley

T: Paul Nicholls

Won the 2022 King George and second in the 2023 Cheltenham Gold Cup (he's unraced beyond that 3m2f); a run of seconds late in 2023 was creditable but more substantial doubts have now set in and various equipment has been tried; to look on the bright side, he makes his first foray outside Grade 1 or 2 for over three years and his handicap mark has plummeted.

40/1

15th

13

5th Apr 2025

Good To Soft

4m 2f 74y

Class 1

16:00 Aintree

Bravemansgame

11st 0lb

J: James Reveley

T: Paul Nicholls

Won the 2022 King George and second in the 2023 Cheltenham Gold Cup (he's unraced beyond that 3m2f); a run of seconds late in 2023 was creditable but more substantial doubts have now set in and various equipment has been tried; to look on the bright side, he makes his first foray outside Grade 1 or 2 for over three years and his handicap mark has plummeted.

40/1

3rd

5

8th Feb 2025

Soft

2m 7f 86y

Class 1

14:25 Newbury

Bravemansgame

11st 2lb

J: Harry Cobden

T: Paul Nicholls

prominent, disputed lead from 5th

5/2

Form: F2-313 D

Last run: 27 days

W: 11st 10lb

9 yo Gelding

OR: 168

Form & Verdict
Met spots of trouble on his way to finishing third in the Cheltenham Gold Cup; dual Grade 1 winner at Leopardstown in 2022 and ran well (clear second) in this contest 12 months ago; only third-best on ratings in this field but has a solid profile and should give another good account.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

14th

16

10th Apr 2026

Good To Soft

2m 5f 19y

Class 1

16:05 Aintree

Conflated

10st 8lb

J: James Bowen

T: Gordon Elliott

Finished third in the 2023 Cheltenham Gold Cup; showed some spark around Punchestown's banks course this February but this 12yo is nothing like the force of old and was well beaten in the cross-country race at Cheltenham last month; without a win since December 2022 and looks up against it.

66/1

9th

5

11th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

3m 5f 56y

Class 2

15:20 Cheltenham

Conflated

10st 7lb

J: Danny Gilligan

T: Gordon Elliott

Top class over regulation fences in his prime (dual 3m Grade 1 winner) but has regressed and become inconsistent; gave a pretty good account when placed behind Vanillier on Bank course at Punchestown (3m1f, soft to heavy; refitted cheekpieces/first-time tongue-tie) last month but was well beaten on his only C&D start (in 2024); younger rivals appeal much more.

25/1

3rd

6

4th Feb 2026

Heavy

3m 0f 193y

12:28 Punchestown

Conflated

11st 4lb

J: Danny Gilligan

T: Gordon Elliott

High-class in his day, winning a brace of Grade 1 Leopardstown contests at 3m; not at that level nowadays, including fourth in C&D cross-country chase at last year's festival; runner-up on latest two runs in point-to-points, most recently at Tyrella 11 days ago; new headgear combination; Jack Kennedy prefers The Goffer.

7/2

Form: 2/31F5

Last run: 28 days

W: 11st 10lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 153

Form & Verdict
Good form at 2m4f in his completed starts this term, most recently fifth (albeit nearly 7l behind Shishkin) in the Ryanair at Cheltenham despite jumping none too fluently; held every chance when final-fence faller in major 3m handicap at Doncaster two starts ago; generally progressive but he's clear bottom of this strong pack on ratings.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4

1st Nov 2025

Good

3m 0f 45y

Class 1

14:57 Wetherby

Ga Law

11st 4lb

J: Jonathan Burke

T: Jamie Snowden

Looked as good as ever when third in first-time blinkers in the Grade 2 Oaksey Chase at Sandown (extended 2m6f, good) in April when last seen; however, he's won just once since November 2022 and has something to find against today's opponents; reapplied cheekpieces replace the blinkers.

7/1

4

1st Nov 2025

Good

3m 0f 45y

Class 1

14:57 Wetherby

Ga Law

11st 4lb

J: Jonathan Burke

T: Jamie Snowden

Looked as good as ever when third in first-time blinkers in the Grade 2 Oaksey Chase at Sandown (extended 2m6f, good) in April when last seen; however, he's won just once since November 2022 and has something to find against today's opponents; reapplied cheekpieces replace the blinkers.

7/1

3rd

5

26th Apr 2025

Good

2m 6f 164y

Class 1

14:25 Sandown

Ga Law

11st 6lb

J: Gavin Sheehan

T: Jamie Snowden

Best known for his exploits in the big 2m4f handicap chases at Cheltenham; however, even on his best form he has something to find in this field and he's been pulled up the last twice; first-time blinkers replace cheekpieces.

40/1

Non-runners

Bravemansgame

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £7.00
Straight Forecast £6.83
Trifecta £16.00

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Shishkin

The Times:

Ahoy Senor

RP Ratings:

A Plus Tard

WEST COUNTRY:

Bravemansgame

Daily Record:

Conflated

Telegraph:

Ahoy Senor

Daily Mail:

Ahoy Senor

Daily Mirror:

Ahoy Senor

The Star:

Ahoy Senor

TOPSPEED:

Shishkin

POSTDATA:

Shishkin

LAMBOURN:

Shishkin

D Express:

Shishkin

The Sun:

Shishkin

The Guardian:

A Plus Tard