FACTS & STATS S

THE ALDER HEY AINTREE BOWL CHASE (GRADE 1)

RACE DESCRIPTION

First ran in 1984, the Bowl - or Martell Cup as it was previously known as - is the feature Grade 1 on the opening day of the meeting. This race has £250,000 worth of prize money on offer, making it one of the most lucrative Grade 1 steeplechases ran in the United Kingdom The race was upgraded to Grade 1 status in 2010, and the names Wayward Lad, Silviniaco Conti and Clan Des Obeaux all feature on the roll of honour

2022 Winner Clan Des Obeaux

Clan Des Obeaux retained his crown in a highly competitive renewal of the Aintree Bowl to further Paul Nicholls' fine record in this race The five-time Grade 1 winner rolled back the years to produce an emphatic performance which was more impressive than the distance suggested The first time blinkers had a sharp effect and he fended off the late charge from the 2022 Irish Gold Cup winner, Conflated.

GRADE 1

RUN OVER THREE MILES, 210 YARDS

19 FENCES TO BE JUMPED

TOTAL PRIZE FUND OF £250,000

£140,325 TO THE WINNER

ROLL OF HONOUR 2013-2022

Key Trends

25 of the last 38 winners had run in the Gold Cup at Cheltenham

8 of the past 11 winners contested the King George at Kempton

Winning Connections

9 of the last 12 winners returned 7-2 of shorter

Trainers with some of the strongest records in the race over the last 10 years.

Trainer

Paul Nicholls

4 winners

Today Paul Saddles

Bravemansgame

JOCKEY

Harry Cobden

2 winners

Today Harry rides

Bravemansgame

The Alder Hey

AINTREE BOWL STEEPLE CHASE (CLASS 1) (Grade 1) (GBB RACE)

for five yrs old and upwards ™ Total prize fund £250000 Owners Prize Money. 1st £107400, 2nd £44200, 3rd £22100, 4th £11050, 5th £5525, 6th £2750 (Penalty Value £140325)

RACE FACTS - A CLOSER LOOK

LEADING COURSE TRAINER (17-22): N Henderson (17 wins from 118 runners, 14%) runs SHISHKIN TRAINER-IN-FORM (LAST 14 DAYS): G Elliott (8 wins from 73 runners, 11%) runs CONFLATED

FANCY THAT: P Nicholls won this race in 2014, 2015, 2021 and 2022. The stable runs BRAVEMANSGAME today. LONGEST TRAVELLERS: CONFLATED trained by G Elliott & A PLUS TARD trained by H De Bromhead - both Ireland.

THIRD RACE 2.55

3m 210y colours no horse age st-lb

1 AHOY SENOR (IRE) (27) 1-5351F CD

8 11-10

Br B g Dylan Thomas (IRE) - Dara Supreme (IRE) Brian Hughes J

O Wymer & Russell Lucinda Russell, Kinross T

B Mr D.P. Constable Ian Macleod & Co Ltd S

TIMEFORM VIEW Cosy winner of the Mildmay Novices' Chase at this meeting last year and back on track after bombing out in the King George when landing the Cotswold Chase at Cheltenham in January Was going great guns when falling 6 out back there in the Gold Cup last time and claims granted a clear round. TFRHHHII BHA166

2 A PLUS TARD (FR) (27) 2/121-PP

9 11-10

Br B g Kapgarde (FR) - Turboka (FR) Rachael Blackmore J

O Cheveley Park Stud Henry de Bromhead, Ireland T

B Mme Henri Devin Cheveley Park Stud S

TIMEFORMVIEW Produced one of the best Gold Cup performances in recent times when landing the Cheltenham Festival showpiece last March. This season hasn't gone to plan but he was travelling well until hampered 6 out when bidding to retain his crown last month and the vibes from his yard have been upbeat. TFRHHHHH BHA175

3 BRAVEMANSGAME (FR) (27) 114-112

8 11-10

Br B g Brave Mansonnien (FR) - Genifique (FR) Harry Cobden J

O Bryan Drew Paul Nicholls, Ditcheat T

B Dr Vet M. Guiot & Dr Vet B. Stoffel Morson Group S

TIMEFORMVIEW Disappointing in the Mildmay won by Ahoy Senor at this meeting 12 months ago but has put that firmly behind him this season, winning the Charlie Hall and the King George prior to a gallant second in the Gold Cup Yard has saddled the last 2 winners of this race and he's a major player. TFRHHHII BHA172

4 CONFLATED (IRE) (27) 1F2-313

9 11-10

Br B g Yeats (IRE) - Saucy Present (IRE) Keith Donoghue J

O Gigginstown House Stud Gordon Elliott, Ireland T

B Dillon Family Gordon Elliott, Mr Elliott S

TIMEFORM VIEWNotchedhissecondGrade1successoverfenceswhenlandingtheSavillsatLeopardstownoverChristmas.Performedtoanevenhigherstandardwhenthird in the Gold Cup last month and while he has a bit to find with Bravemansgame on that evidence, this slightly shorter trip/sharper track will help TFRHHHII BHA168

5 GA LAW (FR) (28) 32/-31F5

7 11-10

Br B g Sinndar (IRE) - Law (FR) Jonathan Burke J

O The Footie Partnership Jamie Snowden, Lambourn T

B Jean-Francois Magnien Betvictor S

TIMEFORM VIEW Hasimprovedthistermafteralongabsence finishingthirdintheOldRoanherepriortolandingthePaddyPowerGoldCupatCheltenhaminNovember

By no means disgraced in the Ryanair at the Festival last month and well worth another try at this trip, but he does have plenty to find. TFRHIIII BHA153

6 SHISHKIN (IRE) (28) 11P-312 C BF

9 11-10

Br B g Sholokhov (IRE) - Labarynth (IRE) Nico de Boinville J

O Mrs J Donnelly Nicky Henderson, Lambourn T

B C.J. & E.B. Bennett Unibet S

TIMEFORM VIEW Following another wind op and equipped with a tongue strap, he proved that he's still one of the best in the business when landing the 21f Ascot Chase in February Mistakes proved costly in the Ryanair next time but obvious chance if cutting out the errors upped in trip here. Tongue strap discarded. TFRHHHHI BHA173

DECLARED RUNNERS 6 2022: CLAN DES OBEAUX (FR) 10 11 7 Harry Cobden 13-2 (Paul Nicholls) 9 ran Tongue Strap worn by No 2.

Stewards Note:

SHISHKIN: Following its run on 16/3/2023 it was reported that the horse hung left handed throughout.

Probable S.P’s: 5-2 Bravemansgame (FR), 10-3 Shishkin (IRE), 7-2 A Plus Tard (FR), 11-2 Conflated (IRE), 6-1 Ahoy Senor (IRE), 66-1 Ga Law (FR)

PLAY SMARTER

In what promises to be an absorbing renewal of this prestigious contest, A PLUS TARD is taken to emerge on top. Though pulled up both starts so far this season, he appeared to be travelling as well as any before being hampered when Ahoy Senor fell 6 out in the Gold Cup, and his imperious performance in that race last March remains fresh in the memory Bravemansgame is a big player on the back of his fine Gold Cup second but if Shishkin puts it all together he will be an even bigger threat.

TIMEFORM PREDICTION: 1.A PLUS TARD (FR) 2.SHISHKIN (IRE) 3.BRAVEMANSGAME (FR)