Racing tips: The Betway Bowl Chase has been the long term target for previous winner Kemboy

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Once again Cool Vixen was well supported in the market but flattered to deceive. I think that's the last time I'll be putting him up, as I'm not quite sure what is going on. James Doyle and the jockeys in behind SDS didn't ride a good race, and the best ride in the race won. Darkness looks too high in the handicap, and will probably land a prize when he drops a few pounds and races at a track like Redcar or Ripon.

Aintree 1:45

This race is arguably one of the weakest Grade 1's you'll ever see, especially on British soil, with it being contested by horses who aren't Grade 1 horses, apart from the unexposed ones, but on paper it doesn't look great. I'm putting my money on ERNE RIVER who has won both his chase starts in good fashion this season, beating some decent horses, and doing it in good fashion. If there's a horse who could improve into a potential Grade 1 horse I think he is the one. His inexperience over fences is a slight concern, and the fact he is a low jumper is a worry, as one mistake could cost his race, but it's a chance I'm willing to take, for a horse who appears to have bundles of ability and cruising speed.

The ground is currently Good To Soft (the night before), but they have watered the track, and Liverpool is expecting a few mm's of rain, so chances are that the track will turn to Soft. There are many in this race who won't want the ground to get too testing, apart from the likes of War Lord, who could be the main danger. Erne River seems to handle soft ground better than most, and his trainer doesn't seem too worried, as he is “fairly versatile”. War Lord looks like he'll take a step up with this extra distance, as he doesn't appear to have the pace for the 2m division, but that doesn't mean he instantly wins a race like this, despite the fact he finished 4th in an Arkle, and this is a weak Grade 1. He appears to have a similar profile to Eldorado Allen, who finished 2nd to Shishskin at the 2021 Festival in the Arkle before running in this race and being convincingly beaten by 17L. I think the same could happen in this, where punters are latching onto the fact he was staying on nicely up the hill at Cheltenham, but he doesn't come across like a world beater, and he is too short in the betting for me. He'll love the conditions if the rain comes, but I'm not convinced.

As for the rest, Pic D'Orhy has a good chance, his jumping has improved throughout the season and his win last time at Kempton was good when you consider he was carrying a penalty. He'll enjoy the flat track, but would want the rain to stay away.

Aintree 2:55

I'm not a big fan of backing horses who come to Aintree straight from Cheltenham, there are a few exceptions to that, but horses who ran in the Gold Cup is a big no for me. That race takes a hell of a lot out of a horse, so the quick turnaround of 20 days is big negative for me. The trainers can say all they want about how the horse is bouncing at home and he's come out of the race well, it would have taken a lot out of them, and this is a second thought after that race didn't go to plan. A horse who has had this race as his target, probably all season is KEMBOY.

There is not many better at targeting horses at races than the main man Willie Mullins, so despite the fact Kemboy wasn't great last time out, this man knows what he is doing, and the fact this horse romped home in this back in 2019 shows that he loves this track. His form behind Galvin and A Plus Tard the time before Leopardstown now reads extremely well, so I think you can scratch his latest run.

This race only really has a few runners who are really Grade 1 horses, in my opinion.

Aintree 4:05

This will be an entertaining watch, as it always is, but especially if you decide to follow me and back JETT. This horse put in a cracking round of jumping in the National last year, leading for the majority of the way, before his tank emptied and his stamina folded. I can't see how they would decide to ride him any different, and if he does, he could get a lot of these out of their comfort zones and cause mistakes in behind. They won't want to let him get too far in front, as at this trip he could be hard to peg back. The ground won't be ideal if the rain arrives, but it shouldn't be enough for him to have any problems on it. This race has more than likely always been the plan since the Waley-Cohen's bought him, and I can see why, as he jumps the fences brilliantly, but like I mentioned before, he doesn't quite have the stamina. He's short enough for a race which has sprung surprises in the past, but I think he is the one they have to beat.

Aintree 4:40

An incredibly competitive handicap chase, but my eyes are drawn to the 10yo THE LAST DAY. He was extremely unlucky to fall at the last at Haydock a few months ago, as he had the race at his mercy. That was a huge run when you consider it was his first run on the back of a 353 day absence, and the fact he was carrying 12st 1lbs on soft ground, which is always testing at Haydock. That race hasn't got the same form to it as some of his rivals today, but it hasn't worked out terribly with the winner winning again, and some decent performances from horses since from horses behind.

He clearly races well when fresh, winning 4x after a 50+ day absence, so the fact he hasn't been seen since that fall is a positive. He is a C&D winner, and the ground will be a plus if the rain arrives. I'm not a huge fan of trainer Evan Williams, and that's based on the fact I can never seem to get him right, but when a horse has been targeted at a race, he normally does very well. The Last Day gets in this off a low weight of 10st 6lbs, and I think he could run well at an okay price.

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