Aintree Bowl Tips It's day one of the Grand National Festival on Merseyside and the opening day includes no fewer than four Grade 1 races, including the Brooklands Golden Miller Chronograph Bowl Chase over three-miles-and-one-furlong. British hopes are headed by Dan Skelton's Grey Dawning, who swerved the Cheltenham Gold Cup in favour of this race, while the Irish raiding party includes Spillane's Tower and Gaelic Warrior. It's a superb field of eight contenders and our expert has picked out two to consider in the Aintree Bowl. Fancy a bet on the Aintree Bowl? If you have already signed up to Paddy Power, check out more of the best betting sites. Aintree Bowl Runners and odds: Grey Dawning @ 2/1 with Paddy Power Spillane's Tower @ 3/1 with Paddy Power Ahoy Senor @ 13/2 with Paddy Power Stage Star @ 13/2 with Paddy Power Gaelic Warrior @ 15/2 with Paddy Power Embassy Gardens @ 8/1 with Paddy Power Djelo @ 25/1 with Paddy Power The Real Whacker @ 25/1 with Paddy Power Selection: Gaelic Warrior @ 15/2 with Paddy Power Next Best: Spillane's Tower @ 3/1 with Paddy Power Odds courtesy of Paddy Power and correct at the time of publishing Ultimate test Dawning for Skelton charge Dan Skelton opted to skip the Cheltenham Gold Cup with Grey Dawning, suggesting it might be a year too soon for him. He was a touch unlucky in the Betfair Chase on his seasonal comeback, tiring after a mistake at the last having travelled ominously well, and perhaps the King George came too soon afterwards. He has eased to victory in the Listed Premier Chase at Kelso on his only start since, accounting for leading Grand National contender Iroko in good style over a trip shy of three miles in a four-runner event where only two mattered. This will be his biggest test to date and he was turned over at this meeting a year ago as a novice over fences, while he fell in a Grade 1 novice in 2023. There are, then, some reasons to doubt the favourite. One-time Aintree specialist Ahoy Senor is not at the same level as in his pomp, while Stage Star for Paul Nicholls and The Real Whacker for Patrick Neville have to up their games if a strong Irish challenge is going to be contained. Gaelic Warrior could show his mettle The most disappointing run of GAELIC WARRIOR'S career immediately preceded his tour de force in the Arkle at Cheltenham last season. He was punch drunk by the time he unseated Paul Townend at the Dublin Racing Festival in a match race with Fact To File, but he roared back to form in the Cotswolds. The DRF this season brought further disappointment as Gaelic Warrior was unable to peg back the front-running Solness in the Dublin Chase over 2m1f. He had finished second to the same rival at Christmas and, after the DRF, Willie Mullins elected to skip Cheltenham completely. Now he has sprung another shock by stepping Gaelic Warrior up to this trip for the first time over fences. He was Grade 1-winning novice over hurdles at three miles at Punchestown in 2023 and this trip could be the making of him. It's his first UK start since the Arkle and while Paul Townend has pinned his colours to the Embassy Gardens mast, Patrick Mullins knows Gaelic Warrior inside out and can make the most of this Grade 1 opening. Spillane's Tower not written off either Like Gaelic Warrior, SPILLANE'S TOWER needs to rebound here. He was a game second to Fact To File in the John Durkan at Punchestown in November, enough to see him going off 11/4fav in the King George at Kempton on his next start. It didn't work out for him there, perhaps the race was not run to suit on just his second go at the increased trip. The slightly easier conditions underfoot will aid him and Jimmy Mangan's star is expected to get back on track sooner rather than later. He has a good record when fresh and while the Boxing Day race didn't pan out for him, he did complete the course — in fifth — while Grey Dawning was pulled up. A repeat of his John Durkan second, splitting Fact To File and Galopin Des Champs, will make him a massive player and that is probably the best form on offer.
