Grade One Aintree Bowl Guide 2023

Talented nine-year-old for Henry De Bromhead who has had just three runs in the last year or so. He romped home to win the Cheltenham Gold Cup last year, beating stablemate Minella Indo by 15 lengths but has been pulled up on both occasions since, in the Betfair Chase at Haydock and the Cheltenham Gold Cup this year before three out.

An extremely talented runner for De Bromhead who’s best days may be in the past. He has been lightly raced for the last year or so which hasn’t been ideal preparation for the big races. Suspect he will struggle again unless showing that Gold Cup winning form again, which unfortunately feels unlikely.

Nine-year-old for Gordon Elliott who ran a decent race in the Cheltenham Gold Cup last month to finish third, behind Bravemansgame and Galopin Des Champs. That was on the back of a five-length victory over Kemboy in the Grade One Savills Chase over 3m at Leopardstown in December and apart from falling in the Ryanair at last year’s Cheltenham festival, hasn’t spent any time outside of the top three over a year (seven races).

Doesn’t look a bad each-way play at around 9/2 in this year’s Aintree Bowl, he probably won’t win the race but has put up some good numbers in his last seven runs. Keith Donoghue does the steering.

Nicky Henderson steps Shishkin up in trip again after going to 2m 5f for the Ascot Chase in February, beating Pic D’Orhy by 16 lengths before running in the 2m 4f Ryanair Chase at Cheltenham festival last month, where he didn’t jump fluently at all and as a result finished second to Envoi Allen at 1/1fav.

The Aintree Bowl is over 3m and this will be Shishkin’s first time over this trip, and Henderson takes off the headgear he doesn’t like in an attempt to find the right trip for his nine-year-old. If performing to his best, Shishkin will be right up there but at 11/4fav currently in the market, he can be taken on especially as he is up against established runners over this sort of trip.

Bravemansgame heads for the Aintree Bowl after finishing a very respectable second in what was an extremely strong Cheltenham Gold Cup last month, seven lengths off winner Galopin Des Champs. The eight-year-old has had a couple of runs here, finishing second back in 2021 in a grade one hurdle race as well as a disappointing fourth in Mildmay Novices’ Chase in April last year.

Bounced back to win at Wetherby in October before landing King George at Kempton in December, beating Royale Pagaille by 14 lengths before running in the Cheltenham Gold Cup. Proven over this trip and a winner of graded contests, he is the form pick and one to beat in this race.

The outsider of this contest at around 33’s is Jamie Snowden’s Ga Law. The seven-year-old finished fifth in the Ryanair last month at the Cheltenham festival after falling in the Sky Bet Handicap Chase over 2m 7f at Doncaster in January. Before that fall, he hadn’t been out of the top three over fences in graded company since his chasing debut in 2020.

This requires more, especially against grade one winning chasers and some proven stayers. Might be a bit too much for him to handle and his price reflects that.

Ahoy Senor arrives at Aintree following a fall in the Cheltenham Gold Cup last month at the 17th fence, having led during the race. Won the Cotswold Chase at Cheltenham in January over 3m 1f after finishing fifth in the King George and third in the Many Clouds Chase here back in December.

A talented horse on his day, inconsistent at times but if he runs to the best of his ability, there is no reason why he cannot challenge for the win. Others boast more consistent form, however.