Aintree Bowl Tips 2026: Jango Baie fancied in Thursday’s feature

Often referred to as the Gold Cup of the Aintree Grand National Festival, the Bowl has often seen some of the best staying chasers around collide on Merseyside and in 2026 it will revolve around Cheltenham Gold Cup second Jango Baie. Billy Grimshaw is on hand to preview the race and is happy to side with Nicky Henderson's star to wrap up his brilliant season in fine style.

Depending on which of the big name runners backing up here after running in the Cheltenham Gold Cup you've backed over the years, you probably have a different opinion on how the Aintree Bowl will pan out. For some, like Denman and Kauto Star, this proved a bridge too far after their heroics in March at Prestbury Park, while for others, like Might Bite and Gerri Colombe, ttheir tremendous form in finishing brave second places at Cheltenham translated to a deserved win in the North West.

Although this year's renewal was all about the phenomenal winning effort of Gaelic Warrior, what JANGO BAIE did in second will not have come without a price being paid. There are few races that leave a mark quite like a big run in the Gold Cup and Nicky Henderson's charge was as brave as can be battling all the way to the line, albeit to no avail given the amazing form of the winner on the day. Undoubtedly, this was a gruelling run which will have sapped the seven year old but if anyone knows when to chuck his horse out again or mind him, it's the master of Seven Barrows. 

Back in 2018 Might Bite was involved in an epic battle with Native River at Cheltenham - on heavy ground which arguably robbed him of his Gold Cup - yet came to Aintree just under a month later and put in another dazzling display to take the Bowl, seemingly running to similar form to that he produced at Cheltenham. Given that run was on heavy compared to Jango Baie's 2026 second on good to soft, I am willing to bet Henderson is confident his charge is fit and firing for this race as his season finale. He is a horse I've liked since his novice chase days and if any runner at Aintree this week deserves a big win to round their season off in style, I believe it to be him.

This is not just a sentimental pick, however, as he brings comfortably the best form to the race. This season he demolished the reopposing Pic D'Orhy at Ascot to kick things off before finishing a close up third in the King George followed by his second in the Gold Cup. Although that is undoubtedly a high class season dining at the very top table, it is not too big an ask to request he venture to the well once more to run four big races in a season given he is a hardy sort and still only seven.

Pic D'Orhy is not the main danger today - or if he is, it'll be a surprise - but Impaire Et Passe did beat Jango Baie here fair and square last year. That result would worry me more if one of two things had not happened. First, if Jango Baie had not had such a fantastic campaign and secondly, more crucially, if Impaire Et Passe had skipped Cheltenham to come here as his primary target. That is what he did in 2025 but in 2026 he was surprisingly sent for the Ryanair. He was not unfancied on the day, but pulled up after a bitterly disappointing round. I could not have him on my mind at around 7/2 to win again here after such a lacklustre effort and off such a short - by his usual standards - break.

Spillane's Tower is a horse I would fear if he takes his chance, but I'd make it 50/50 right now that he'll even run given the heatwave I am currently experiencing in the North West. Should he run here Jimmy Mangan will have decided there is enough juice in the ground for him to give his true running, but Wednesday is a seriously drying day and if the ground is anything other than good come Thursday afternoon I'll be surprised. He is the fresh horse and potentially a very good one, but even if he does run I think Jango should have his number.

That just leaves old boy Protektorat and while he is capable of a massive run on his best day, this trip stretches him a touch in my opinion and he is vulnerable to younger legs. Jango Baie is not going to make you rich at around evens, but he is value at the price and can end a season to remember on a winning note.