Aintree Bowl
The Alder Hey Aintree Bowl is a Grade 1 National Hunt steeplechase in Great Britain which is open to horses aged five years or older. It is run at Aintree over a distance of about 3 miles and 1 furlong (3 miles and 210 yards, or 5,020 metres), and during its running there are nineteen fences to be jumped. The race is scheduled to take place each year in early April.
| Grade 1 race | |
| Location | Aintree Racecourse Merseyside, England |
|---|---|
| Inaugurated | 1984 |
| Race type | Steeplechase |
| Sponsor | Betway |
| Website | Aintree |
| Race information | |
| Distance | 3m 210y (5,020 metres) |
| Surface | Turf |
| Track | Left-handed |
| Qualification | Five-years-old and up |
| Weight | 11 st 7 lb Allowances 7 lb for mares |
| Purse | £250,000 (2022) 1st: £140,325 |
| 2023 | ||
| Shishkin | Ahoy Senor | A Plus Tard |
| Previous years | ||
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | ||
| Clan Des Obeaux | Conflated | Kemboy |
| 2021 | ||
| Clan Des Obeaux | Clondaw Castle | Native River |
| 2020-2011 | ||
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | ||
| Kemboy | Clan Des Obeaux | Balko Des Flos |
| 2018 | ||
| Might Bite | Bristol De Mai | Clan Des Obeaux |
| 2017 | ||
| Tea For Two | Cue Card | Smad Place |
| 2016 | ||
| Cue Card | Don Poli | Djakadam |
| 2015 | ||
| Silviniaco Conti | Ballynagour | Holywell |
| 2014 | ||
| Silviniaco Conti | Dynaste | Argocat |
| 2013 | ||
| First Lieutenant | Menorah | Silviniaco Conti |
| 2012 | ||
| Follow The Plan | Burton Port | Hunt Ball |
| 2011 | ||
| Nacarat | Carole's Legacy | Follow The Plan |
| 2010-2001 | ||
|---|---|---|
| 2010 | ||
| What A Friend | Carruthers | Nacarat |
| 2009 | ||
| Madison Du Berlais | Exotic Dancer | Albertas Run |
| 2008 | ||
| Our Vic | Kauto Star | Exotic Dancer |
| 2007 | ||
| Exotic Dancer | My Will | Our Vic |
| 2006 | ||
| Celestial Gold | Take The Stand | L'ami |
| 2005 | ||
| Grey Abbey | First Gold | Crystal d'Ainay |
| 2004 | ||
| Tiutchev | First Gold | Hand Inn Hand |
| 2003 | ||
| First Gold | Lady Cricket | Commanche Court |
| 2002 | ||
| Florida Pearl | Cyfor Malta | Lord Noelie |
| 2001 | ||
| First Gold | Lord Noelie | Legal Right |
| 2000-1991 | ||
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | ||
| See More Business | Mulligan | Lake Kariba |
| 1999 | ||
| Macgeorge | Escartefigue | Dr Leunt |
| 1998 | ||
| Escartefigue | Simply Dashing | The Grey Monk |
| 1997 | ||
| Barton Bank | Merry Gale | Rouyan |
| 1996 | ||
| Scotton Banks | Barton Bank | Unguided Missile |
| 1995 | ||
| Merry Gale | Martomick | Monsieur Le Cure |
| 1994 | ||
| Docklands Express | Black Humour | Dubacilla |
| 1993 | ||
| Docklands Express | Run For Free | Very Very Ordinary |
| 1992 | ||
| Kings Fountain | Tipping Tim | Sparkling Flame |
| 1991 | ||
| Aquilifer | Norton's Coin | Stay on Tracks |
| 1990-1988 | ||
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | ||
| Toby Tobias | Cavvies Clown | Man O'Magic |
| 1989 | ||
| Yahoo | Delius | Bishops Yarn |
| 1988 | ||
| Desert Orchid | Kildimo | Weather The Storm |
History edit
The event was established in 1984, and it was originally designed as a consolation prize for horses which were beaten or had been unable to participate in the previous month's Cheltenham Gold Cup. The inaugural running was backed by Perrier-Jouët, and it was titled the Perrier-Jouët Champagne Cup. For the following three years it was sponsored by Whitbread and called the Whitbread Gold Label Cup.
Subsequent sponsors have included Martell (the Martell Cup, the Martell Cognac Cup) and Betfair (the Betfair Bowl). Totesport began supporting the event as the Totesport Bowl in 2008 and the sponsorship was taken over by Betfred in 2012 after that company purchased The Tote in 2011. Betway took over sponsorship from the 2017 running. For the 2023 edition the race was run as the Alder Hey Aintree Bowl as part of the 21st anniversary of the partnership between Aintree Racecourse and the Alder Hey Children's Charity.[1]
The race was promoted to Grade 1 status in 2010. It is currently held on the opening day of the three-day Grand National meeting.
Records edit
Most successful horse (2 wins):
- Wayward Lad – 1985, 1987
- Docklands Express – 1993, 1994
- First Gold – 2001, 2003
- Silviniaco Conti – 2014, 2015
- Clan Des Obeaux – 2021, 2022
Leading jockey (2 wins):
- Richard Dunwoody – Aquilifer (1991), Docklands Express (1994)
- Thierry Doumen – First Gold (2001, 2003)
- Tony McCoy – Tiutchev (2004), Exotic Dancer (2007)
- Timmy Murphy – Celestial Gold (2006), Our Vic (2008)
- Noel Fehily – Silviniaco Conti (2014, 2015)
- Paddy Brennan – Nacarat (2011), Cue Card (2016)
- Ruby Walsh – What A Friend (2010), Kemboy (2019)
- Harry Cobden – Clan Des Obeaux (2021, 2022)
- Nico de Boinville – Might Bite (2018), Shishkin (2023)
Leading trainer (6 wins):
- Paul Nicholls – See More Business (2000), What a Friend (2010), Silviniaco Conti (2014, 2015), Clan Des Obeaux (2021, 2022)
Winners edit
| Year | Winner | Age | Jockey | Trainer |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1984 | Royal Bond | 11 | Tom Taaffe | Arthur Moore |
| 1985 | Wayward Lad | 10 | John Francome | Monica Dickinson |
| 1986 | Beau Ranger | 8 | Hywel Davies | John Thorne |
| 1987 | Wayward Lad | 12 | Graham McCourt | Monica Dickinson |
| 1988 | Desert Orchid | 9 | Simon Sherwood | David Elsworth |
| 1989 | Yahoo | 8 | Tom Morgan | John Edwards |
| 1990 | Toby Tobias | 8 | Mark Pitman | Jenny Pitman |
| 1991 | Aquilifer | 11 | Richard Dunwoody | Martin Pipe |
| 1992 | Kings Fountain | 9 | Anthony Tory | Kim Bailey |
| 1993 | Docklands Express | 11 | Jamie Osborne | Kim Bailey |
| 1994 | Docklands Express | 12 | Richard Dunwoody | Kim Bailey |
| 1995 | Merry Gale | 7 | Graham Bradley | Jim Dreaper |
| 1996 | Scotton Banks | 7 | Lorcan Wyer | Tim Easterby |
| 1997 | Barton Bank | 11 | David Walsh | David Nicholson |
| 1998 | Escartefigue | 6 | Richard Johnson | David Nicholson |
| 1999 | Macgeorge | 9 | Adrian Maguire | Richard Lee |
| 2000 | See More Business | 10 | Mick Fitzgerald | Paul Nicholls |
| 2001 | First Gold | 8 | Thierry Doumen | François Doumen |
| 2002 | Florida Pearl | 10 | Barry Geraghty | Willie Mullins |
| 2003 | First Gold | 10 | Thierry Doumen | François Doumen |
| 2004 | Tiutchev | 11 | Tony McCoy | Martin Pipe |
| 2005 | Grey Abbey | 11 | Graham Lee | Howard Johnson |
| 2006 | Celestial Gold | 8 | Timmy Murphy | Martin Pipe |
| 2007 | Exotic Dancer | 7 | Tony McCoy | Jonjo O'Neill |
| 2008 | Our Vic | 10 | Timmy Murphy | David Pipe |
| 2009 | Madison du Berlais | 8 | Tom Scudamore | David Pipe |
| 2010 | What A Friend | 7 | Ruby Walsh | Paul Nicholls |
| 2011 | Nacarat | 10 | Paddy Brennan | Tom George |
| 2012 | Follow The Plan | 9 | Tom Doyle | Oliver McKiernan |
| 2013 | First Lieutenant | 8 | Bryan Cooper | Mouse Morris |
| 2014 | Silviniaco Conti | 8 | Noel Fehily | Paul Nicholls |
| 2015 | Silviniaco Conti | 9 | Noel Fehily | Paul Nicholls |
| 2016 | Cue Card | 10 | Paddy Brennan | Colin Tizzard |
| 2017 | Tea For Two | 8 | Lizzie Kelly | Nick Williams |
| 2018 | Might Bite | 9 | Nico de Boinville | Nicky Henderson |
| 2019 | Kemboy | 7 | Ruby Walsh | Willie Mullins |
| no race 2020 [a] | ||||
| 2021 | Clan Des Obeaux | 9 | Harry Cobden | Paul Nicholls |
| 2022 | Clan Des Obeaux | 10 | Harry Cobden | Paul Nicholls |
| 2023 | Shishkin | 9 | Nico de Boinville | Nicky Henderson |
| 2024 | Gerri Colombe | 8 | Jack Kennedy | Gordon Elliott |
- ^ The 2020 running was cancelled because of the COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom[2]
See also edit
- Horse racing in Great Britain
- List of British National Hunt races
- Recurring sporting events established in 1984 – this race is included under its original title, Perrier-Jouët Champagne Cup.
References edit
- Racing Post:
- 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997
- 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007
- 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017
- 2018, 2019, 2021, 2022
- – 2010 John Smith's Grand National Media Guide.
- pedigreequery.com – Bowl Chase – Aintree.
- Ladbrokes Pocket Companion 1990/91. Aesculus Press. 1990. p. 65. ISBN 1-871093-21-X.
External links edit
- Race Recordings [1]