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.

Aintree Bowl Tips

Jango Baie ran a stormer in defeat in the Cheltenham Gold Cup and Nicky Henderson’s star can go one better here. He should be able to outclass the likes of Impaire Et Passe and Protektorat, who could be the biggest dangers.

14:55 Racing Welfare Bowl Chase (Grade 1) (GBB Race)

Jango Baie

J: Nico de Boinville

T: Nicky Henderson

Result

1st EvensF

Who Are This Year’s Aintree Bowl Favourites?

Second in the Cheltenham Gold Cup, Jango Baie will attempt to go one better and is likely to be a red-hot favourite for the Aintree Bowl. Nicky Henderson’s charge will face a strong Irish contingent with Impaire Et Passe and Spilanne’s Tower two of the main contenders towards the head of the betting.

Who Are This Year’s Aintree Bowl Underdogs?

Dan Skelton’s Protektorat may not be the force of old, but heads to Aintree on the back of wins at Windsor and Kelso. He will be a leading underdog alongside Pic D’Orhy, who will be looking to recapture his best form.

2026 Aintree Bowl Racecard

14:55 Aintree

Good To Soft

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

• First Prize: £140325
• 3m 0f 210y
• Class 1
• 5 runners
• Win time: 6m 21s

OUR TIP

1st

2

9 tips

Jango Baie

J: Nico de Boinville

T: Nicky Henderson

EvensF (Won)

• Win: £2.00
• Place: £1.30

2nd

4

2 tips

Protektorat

J: Harry Skelton

T: Dan Skelton

5/1

• Place: £2.00

3rd

3

Pic DOrhy

J: Harry Cobden

T: Paul Nicholls

12/1

F

1

1 tip

Impaire Et Passe

J: Paul Townend

T: W P Mullins

4/1

PU

5

Spillanes Tower

J: Mark Walsh

T: James Joseph Mangan

11/2

+o+e Betting Returns

	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

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.

Aintree Bowl Trends & Historic Data

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, recent Gold Cup hero Gaelic Warrior, despite being as short as 11/4, was a rare non-favourite to win the Bowl. Seven of the last ten market leaders have obliged. That ensured it was back-to-back renewals for Irish trainers after Gordon Elliott and Gerri Colombe scored in 2024.

Experience has often told here too: only two winners since 2014 have 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. However, this could be a trend turning given that Gaelic Warrior won as a seven-year-old last term.

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