IT’S shaping up to be the race of the week – not the Grand National but the Aintree Bowl.
Punters will be treated to a star-studded list of runners including Shishkin, A Plus Tard and Bravemansgame going head-to-head.
Can Shishkin get back on track with victory in the Bowl?
On form there might not be much to pick between them, but that hasn’t stopped Templegate doing the hard work so you don’t have to.
Here, he runs through every runner in the 2.55 and reveals his tip at the bottom.
Templegate’s Antree Bowl runner-by-runner guide
AHOY SENOR 3
AHOY there. Lucinda Russell’s star can be hit and miss but he’s dangerous over this trip at Aintree as he showed when winning the Grade 1 Mildmay Chase last season ahead of Bravemansgame who was poor on the day.
After a couple of modest efforts he clocked a career best when winning the Cotswold Chase at Cheltenham in January.
He’s prone to mistakes and fell when still leading the Cheltenham Gold Cup five out last time.
The engine for a big win is definitely there but his jumping will come under pressure again.
A PLUS TARD 4
PLUS adds up. Last year’s Gold Cup winner got no luck in the race this time around when hampered and pulled up just before the pace really got going.
He was a fair way back at the time but was with eventual winner Galopin Des Champs and Rachael Blackmore says he was going well but had to be pulled up.
It was his second PU of the season after a too-bad-to-be-true effort in the Lancashire Chase at Haydock in November.
His best form wins this as we know he stays and he will have no issues with the flat track.
BRAVEMANSGAME 4
HE’S Game. The King George hero ran a mighty race when second in the Cheltenham Gold Cup last time albeit no match for the fantastic winner.
But he jumped nicely and had no problem getting the longer distance up the hill.
That’s obviously cracking form and the longer break since the Festival gives him every chance of repeating that effort.
The only worry is his poor run at this meeting last year but he’s a much better horse now.
Paul Nicholls says he’s been working well and he has every chance again.
CONFLATED 3
NO Con job. Gordon Elliott’s hope was beaten a length by Clan Des Obeaux in this 12 months ago and has been in fine form this year.
After blowing the cobwebs away at Down Royal in November he landed a nice prize over this trip at Leopardstown’s Christmas meeting before arguably the run of this life when third in the Cheltenham Gold Cup.
The hill was probably a bit much for him there and this flatter track and shorter trip should be ideal.
The rain that’s been around will help as his best efforts have come with some give underfoot. Another major player in a superb race.
GA LAW 1
LAW broken. He was a Grade 2 performer as a novice and did well to win the Paddy Power Gold Cup at Cheltenham in November.
He then may well have won another hot handicap at Doncaster but for falling at the final fence when just a length off the winner.
He put in a decent effort when fifth in the Ryanair at the Cheltenham Festival last time and he still has to prove his stamina stretches this far.
He has a fair bit to find in this exalted company.
SHISHKIN 5
SHISH can skewer them. He tries three miles for the first time and it could be the making of him after he finished strongly over the shorter distance of the Ryanair Chase at Cheltenham last time.
He stuck himself out the back early and it looked as though he may be pulled up at one stage but he got into the race and was gaining up the hill.
That form was just below his brilliant comeback win at Ascot in February when he tanked along and gave a decent field a walloping.
That sticks in the memory and this distance at a flat track like Aintree will be right up his street. He’s more than capable of winning this.
Templegate’s tip
THE Aintree Bowl is Kin the bag for Nicky Henderson.
His SHISHKIN finally gets a crack at three miles after finishing strongly when second in the Ryanair over half a mile shorter at Cheltenham.
He was brilliant before that winning the Ascot Chase and can edge this brilliant race – one of the best of the season.
Bravemansgame was an excellent Gold Cup second and can confirm the placings with third home Conflated who was runner-up in this 12 months ago.
And we can’t write off A Plus Tard who was hampered and pulled-up when defending his title.
Jockey Rachael Blackmore is adamant he had lots of petrol left at the time.
Then there’s Ahoy Senor who was going great guns out in front until taking a tumble.
It would be no shock to see him bounce back and go close.
