Aintree Bowl Odds

What is the Aintree Bowl?

First run in 1984, the Bowl has grown into a fantastic race on the National Hunt calendar and more than just a consolation for the Cheltenham Gold Cup.

The race itself is run over just shy of 3m1f and is a Grade 1 race for horses aged five and over, with 19 fences to be jumped.

Only four horses have ever won the Bowl on more than one occasion, with Silviniaco Conti the last two to do so, and it can be a tough race for punters to decode - with the race coming at the end of a long campaign.

There is no doubt that the 2020 race will be hotly anticipated once again and it will be fascinating to see which equine superstar can become the latest name to win the Liverpool contest.

What happened in the 2019 Aintree Bowl?

Kemboy failed to live up to the hype in the 2019 Cheltenham Gold Cup, falling at the first fence, and he arrived at Aintree with a point to prove. With six runners, the race was a small but select affair, and featured the likes of the Betfair Chase winner Bristol De Mai, the King George winner Clan Des Obeaux and the 2018 Ryanair Chase winner Balko Des Flos. Sent off the 9/4 favourite, Kemboy showed his freshness to produce a flawless display, making all to win by nine lengths for the Willie Mullins team. 

The history of the Aintree Bowl

Established in 1984, the Aintree Bowl has grown into one of the staying chases of the season, and regularly features key players from the Cheltenham Gold Cup.

The race’s proximity to Cheltenham means that we have become accustomed to seeing a surprise or two, but the race’s roll of honour features some illustrious names, including Silviniaco Conti and Cue Card.

The race was upgraded to Grade 1 status in 2010, and was won by a female jockey for the first time in 2017 - when Lizzie Kelly teamed up to victory with Tea For Two. 

Who is the most iconic winner of the Aintree Bowl?

A plethora of big name horses have won the Bowl in recent years including Barton Bank, Florida Pearl, Exoctic Dancer, Silviniaco Conti, Cue Card and Might Bite, but it is hard to look past Desert Orchid.

He is perhaps best known for other wins in his career, including winning the King George VI Chase at Kempton on four occasions, but he got his head in front in Liverpool back in 1988.

Are there any trials for the Aintree Bowl?

The path to the Aintree Bowl is a pretty clear one, and the key contenders for this race usually run in the previous month’s Cheltenham Gold Cup, though occasionally winners of the Ryanair Chase can step up in trip. Earlier in the season, it’s worth keeping an eye on the Betfair Chase at Haydock, the King George VI Chase at Kempton, the Cotswold Chase at Cheltenham and the Irish Gold Cup at Leopardstown. 

Who is the most successful jockey in the Aintree Bowl?

The Bowl has a fantastic roll of honour, and seven jockeys share the accolade of being the race’s winning most rider, with two wins apiece; Richard Dunwoody, Thierry Doumen, AP McCoy, Timmy Murphy, Noel Fehily, Paddy Brennan and Ruby Walsh. 

Who is the most successful trainer in the Aintree Bowl?

Paul Nicholls is the winning most trainer in the history of the Aintre Bowl, with four wins. Nicholls’ victories in the race came courtesy of  See More Business (2000), What A Friend (2010) and Silviniaco Conti (2014 and 2015).