Home / Aintree Bowl Tips, Odds & Runners 2026

Aintree Bowl Tips, Odds & Runners 2026

The Grade 1 Aintree Bowl is the premier open staying chase at the Grand National meeting, and arguably second only to the big race itself in terms of stature. The race can provide compensation for those who were beaten in the Cheltenham Gold Cup, or indeed those who missed that race altogether. Our team of tipsters will have their best bets in the race here.

Tips to follow

Who Are This Year’s Aintree Bowl Favourites?

Three horses who missed Cheltenham completely are those dominating the market for the 2026 Aintree Bowl. Grey Dawning was one of the main British hopes for the Gold Cup, but has been kept fresh for this race instead after an impressive recent victory at Kelso. However, he could bump into Spillane’s Tower, a disappointing favourite in the King George VI Chase, but who chased home Fact To File at close quarters in the John Durkan Chase earlier in the season at Punchestown.

From Willie Mullins’ yard, this race could represent a major step up in distance for former Arkle hero Gaelic Warrior. An immensely talented horse at his best, the seven-year-old has underwhelmed over 2m this season, but has won over 3m as a novice hurdler, so could feel right at home in this race.

Who Are This Year’s Aintree Bowl Underdogs?

Second in the Cotswold Chase last time and a former Grade 1 winner over fences, Stage Star has been campaigned quietly by Paul Nicholls, who has an excellent record in this race. This may have been a long term target, while Ahoy Senor loves Aintree, winning Grade 1s here as both a novice hurdler and novice chaser, while he has been second in this race for the last two seasons.

Former Ryanair Chase winner Protektorat may play his part in this longer race as well.

Last Year’s Aintree Bowl Odds

Awaiting Odds….

Aintree Bowl Racecourse 

The Grand National course is known as one of the most testing around, but the Mildmay fences jumped as part of the Aintree Bowl are less testing. The course represents a jumping test with plenty of obstacles, but the track is notably flat, meaning this provides much less of a test of stamina than the Gold Cup would despite their similar distances.

Are There Any Specific Aintree Bowl Betting Offers?

As always with the Grand National meeting, there will be plenty of offers coming out from Thursday onwards for Aintree’s races. We will update all of these on our dedicated betting offers page.

For a Grade 1 race over fences in which some of the best staying chasers compete fiercely, the Aintree Bowl has proven a remarkably successful race for favourite backers. Last year, Gerri Colombe became the seventh winning favourite in the last nine renewals, and only one of those was odds-on. Had you backed every favourite in that time, you would be 10.5 points in profit to a level stake.

Despite their dominance at Cheltenham, Gordon Elliott was only the second Irish trainer to have won this in the last ten runnings. He and Willie Mullins have done so once each, but Paul Nicholls has four wins, and Nicky Henderson two in that time.

Experience has often told here too: only one winner since 2014 has been younger than eight years old, with both Cue Card and Clan De Obeaux already into double figures by the time they won the 2016 and 2022 renewals respectively.

Aintree Bowl Horse Entries & Selections

The maximum field size of 18 is very rarely close to being met in the Aintree Bowl, especially when the meeting comes so soon after Cheltenham. However, horses must be aged over five to take part, which is the only criterion which counts.

Which Trainers Have Historically Had the Most Success in the Aintree Bowl?

Four wins since 2014 added to two beforehand for Paul Nicholls, whose six wins in the race ensure he has the all-time lead. Between them at their yard, Martin and David Pipe have five victories, with three for Martin and two for David, though only Kim Bailey, with three winners himself, has ever claimed this more than twice.

Runners & Riders Past Winners

YearHorseTrainerJockeyOdds
2025Gaelic WarriorWillie MullinsPatrick Mullins11/4
2024Gerri ColombeGordon ElliottJack Kennedy9/4F
2023ShishkinNicky HendersonNico De Boinville7/4F
2022Clan Des ObeauxPaul NichollsHarry Cobden13/2
2021Clan Des ObeauxPaul NichollsHarry Cobden5/2F
2020NO RACENO RACENO RACENO RACE
2019KemboyWillie MullinsRuby Walsh9/4F
2018Might BiteNicky HendersonNico De Boinville4/5F
2017Tea For TwoNick WilliamsLizzie Kelly10/1
2016Cue CardColin TizzardPaddy Brennan6/5F
2015Silviniaco ContiPaul NichollsNoel Fehily7/4F