Aintree Bowl Review

The Aintree Festival took place last week and there were plenty of talking points, as well as some excellent racing.

Thursday was Day 1 and the seven-race card kicked off with four consecutive Grade 1 races and Willie Mullins was ready to take aim.

Race three was the Brooklands Golden Miller Chronograph Bowl Chase and, after winning the first two races, Mullins had two of the seven runners.

Here we take a detailed look at the race and consider the future impact of the form.

How the race unfolded

Both Gaelic Warrior and Embassy Gardens were well backed ahead of the race, as a result of their trainer’s excellent start to the day and the former went off the 11/4 second favourite, even though he had been deserted by Paul Townend.

The complexion of the race changed very quickly as Townend pulled Embassy Gardens up after the third fence. Paul Nicholls’ Stage Star was quickly sent to the front by Harry Cobden and he got into a nice rhythm, jumping noticeably well.

Harry Skelton was keen not to give Nicholls’ runner too much rope and as a result race favourite Grey Dawning contested the lead throughout. This probably caused Stage Star to do too much out in front and his finishing effort suffered as a result, coming home a tired third.

Not doing Grey Dawning any favours either, Patrick Mullins was incredibly patient aboard Gaelic Warrior and he was produced to deliver one late challenge. Clearly the tactics paid off as he was well in control at the finish, going on to score by three lengths.

Venetia Williams’ Djelo was never travelling, jumped poorly, and looked in desperate need of a drop in grade and a return to slower ground.

Ahoy Senor didn’t travel with his usual zest, never looking likely to trouble the places and the same can be said for The Real Whacker.

Analysing the form

It’s now immediately obvious as to why Gaelic Warrior has looked badly outpaced over shorter trips this season.

He was a Grade 1 novice hurdle winner over three miles and, although dominant in last season’s Arkle, longer trips are more suitable now.

This race also put to bed doubts about his ability to perform on better ground, as he had no issues with the good to soft going here.

It’ll be interesting to see how he’s campaigned next season, but there could be more to come from him over three miles.

Grey Dawning looked back to his best and connections’ decision to skip Cheltenham almost paid off.

The winner and the third also came here fresh and those who ran at Cheltenham beforehand appeared to struggle.

Stage Star is a hard horse for Nicholls to campaign as handicaps are out of the question with a rating of 163.

Those struggles look set to continue next year as he ran a great race in third and might have finished closer with less aggressive tactics.

Ahoy Senor’s glory days are beyond him it seems and The Real Whacker isn’t a proper Grade 1 horse. Djelo won two Grade 2s this season and he struggled on the ground so softer conditions will bring out the best in him.

Hopefully Embassy Gardens will be back to fight another day, having been pulled up very quickly.