14:55 Aintree 09 Apr 2026
Racing Welfare Bowl Chase
Grade 1 | GBB Race | Class 1 | 5YO plus
Winner £140,325 - 5 ran
wore red hood to post, prominent, not fluent 2nd, tracked front pair 3rd, hit 12th, went second 14th, led before 3 out, shaken up and faced challenge before 2 out where left well clear, ridden before last, coasted home run-in
led, pushed along and headed before 3 out, pushed along after 3 out, held when left in modest second 2 out, soon ridden and kept on one pace
handy on outer, hit 3rd, mistake 14th and lost position, weakened after 3 out, left in remote third 2 out
in touch in fourth, slow 9th, untidy 13th, disputed second next, every chance pressing leader and not asked for effort when fell 2 out
held up in rear, not fluent 7th, mistake 10th, cajoled along 12th, pushed along 4 out, no impression when blundered 3 out, soon pulled up, vet reported gelding had bled from nose
Betting returns
| Type | Winnings |
|---|---|
| CSF | £6.42 (2, 4) |
| Win | £2.00 (2) |
| Place | £1.30 (2), £2.00 (4) |
| Exacta | £5.10 (2, 4) |
| Trifecta | £16.40 (2, 4, 3) |
Expert Analysis
According to the attheraces.com sectionals, the first half of this race was run at a very fast pace. Perhaps this made life difficult for the front running Protektorat to last home over a trip beyond his best. This in turn accentuated the winning and losing margins and resulted in Jango Baie coming home a more impressive looking winner than was probably the case.
JANGO BAIE Although he finished 16 lengths in front of the runner-up and a further 24 lengths clear of the only other finisher, this only tells a part of the story. Both the second and third horses to finish still have stamina to prove for this trip, whilst Impaire Et Passe was arguably going best when taking a crashing fall at the second last fence.
I heard a few post-race comments about how Jango Baie had just paid a huge compliment to Gaelic Warrior who beat him so easily at Cheltenham in March. I am not sure I quite agree with those sentiments given the way this race panned out plus the likely stamina limitations attached to the other two finishers.
PROTEKTORAT After taking the field along at a fast pace in the first half of the race he was then rather a sitting duck for the first and second favourites in the home straight. He was booked for a well beaten third before the Mullins horse crashed out at the second last fence. His second place finish in this grade one chase will read better in the form book than it was in reality.
PIC D’ORHY His serious blunder at the 14th fence ended any distant hopes he had of staying this trip well enough to trouble the Gold Cup runner-up. From thereon in Harry Cobden gave him a considerate ride to finish in the best possible placing. He had his stamina to prove for this trip coming into the race and did nothing here to suggest he could be of interest over a similar distance on another day.
IMPAIRE ET PASSE I would suggest he was going better than the eventual winner when taking a crashing fall at the second last fence. That said, he still has his stamina to prove for this trip whereas the winning favourite clearly stays three miles plus well.
SPILLANE’S TOWER He never really looked happy and made a few minor errors before being pulled up after the third last fence. The vet reported that he had bled from the nose.
Video Highlights
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Replay: 14:55 Aintree 9th Apr 2026
Previous winners
| Year | Going | Ran | Winner | Draw | Age | Weight | OR | Form | Last run | Trainer (Distance) | Jockey | SP | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Good to Soft | 7 | Gaelic Warrior | 7 | 11 10 | - | 1U1-223 | 60 days | W P Mullins | Mr Patrick Mullins | 11/ 4 | 6:22.15 | |
| 2024 | Soft | 7 | Gerri Colombe | 8 | 11 10 | - | 121-122 | 27 days | G Elliott (210 miles) | Jack Kennedy | 9/ 4 | 6:51.54 | |
| 2023 | Good to Soft | 5 | Shishkin | 9 | 11 10 | - | 11P-312 | 28 days | N J Henderson (180 miles) | Nico De Boinville | 7/ 4 | 6:20.94 | |
| 2022 | Good to Soft | 9 | Clan Des Obeaux | 10 | 11 7 | - | 321-123 | 54 days | P F Nicholls (207 miles) | Harry Cobden | 13/ 2 | 6:33.30 | |
| 2021 | Good to Soft | 9 | Clan Des Obeaux | 9 | 11 7 | - | 218-232 | 46 days | P F Nicholls (207 miles) | Harry Cobden | 5/ 2 | 6:25.94 | |
| 2019 | Good to Soft | 6 | Kemboy | 7 | 11 7 | - | F11-11U | 20 days | W P Mullins | Ruby Walsh | 9/ 4 | 6:35.00 | |
| 2018 | Good to Soft | 8 | Might Bite | 9 | 11 7 | - | 111-112 | 27 days | N J Henderson (180 miles) | Nico De Boinville | 4/ 5 | 6:40.18 | |
| 2017 | Good | 7 | Tea For Two | 8 | 11 7 | - | 3-5241U | 20 days | Nick Williams (250 miles) | Lizzie Kelly | 10/ 1 | 6:24.10 | |
| 2016 | Good to Soft | 9 | Cue Card | 10 | 11 7 | - | 2-4111F | 20 days | C L Tizzard (216 miles) | Paddy Brennan | 6/ 5 | 6:41.10 | |
| 2015 | Good to Soft | 7 | Silviniaco Conti | 9 | 11 7 | - | 41-5117 | 27 days | P F Nicholls (207 miles) | Noel Fehily | 7/ 4 | 6:15.40 | |
| 2014 | Good | 6 | Silviniaco Conti | 8 | 11 7 | - | 1F3-314 | 20 days | P F Nicholls (207 miles) | Noel Fehily | 9/ 4 | 6:21.90 | |
| 2013 | Good | 8 | First Lieutenant | 8 | 11 7 | - | 3-42322 | 21 days | M F Morris | Bryan Cooper | 7/ 2 | 6:25.40 | |
| 2012 | Good to Soft | 11 | Follow The Plan | 9 | 11 7 | - | 3-16244 | 33 days | O McKiernan | T J Doyle | 50/ 1 | 6:26.60 | |
| 2011 | Good to Soft | 6 | Nacarat | 10 | 11 7 | - | 23-1443 | 40 days | T R George (154 miles) | Paddy Brennan | 7/ 2 | 6:31.69 | |
| 2010 | Good to Soft | 5 | What A Friend | 7 | 11 7 | - | 1161-21 | 100 days | P F Nicholls (207 miles) | Ruby Walsh | 5/ 2 | 6:27.10 | |
| 2009 | Good | 10 | Madison Du Berlais | 8 | 11 10 | - | 5F-6118 | 20 days | D Pipe (209 miles) | Tom Scudamore | 12/ 1 | 6:26.40 | |
| 2008 | Good to Soft | 5 | Our Vic | 10 | 11 10 | - | 223-221 | 21 days | D Pipe (209 miles) | Timmy Murphy | 9/ 1 | 6:25.80 | |
| 2007 | Good | 5 | Exotic Dancer | 7 | 11 12 | - | 211212 | 27 days | J & A O'Neill (140 miles) | A P McCoy | 6/ 4 | 6:22.70 | |
| 2006 | Good | 9 | Celestial Gold | 8 | 11 8 | - | 11137-U | 20 days | M Pipe (209 miles) | Timmy Murphy | 8/ 1 | 6:27.80 |
