2.30 Aintree
Betfred Bowl Chase (Grade 1) (Class 1) (5YO plus)
Winner £84,405
Advice: 1 pt win Silviniaco Conti (evens general)
Cape Tribulation: Has had a fine season, continuing
remarkable progress made from the end of last season, bouncing back from
lacklustre effort in Charlie Hall Chase when romping away with Rowland Meryick
at Christmas before then getting past returning Imperial Commander in the last
few yards of Argento Chase; Only fifth in Cheltenham Gold cup and hard to see
him reversing form with The Giant Bolster on that basis.
First Lieutenant: Improved hand over fist with every run chasing, making dire
comeback on first two runs in Ireland but then running fantastic races in
Hennessy and especially Lexus Chase when involved in four way finish; Ryanair
was expected to suit him down to the ground but he had no answer to speed of
Cue Card; 3m around here is more his bag but vulnerable after that even if he
looks a rock solid contender. 
Menorah: Despite some notable wins, get the feeling he still
hadn’t mastered chasing but has won Grade 1 here over 2m4f and impressive
considering the heavy ground in Peterbough Chase; Couldn’t land a blow in the
Ryanair Chase and 21 lengths behind Silviniaco Conti in February, so hard to
fancy here. 
Quito De La Roque: Very useful staying chaser at his best
(won Mildmay here in 2011) and few well clear for emphatic victory in the
Kinloch Brae Chase latest; Said to have had training problems during that run,
but this field a step up on that and hard to forget very laboured efforts in
top company on good ground/when disappointing in Listed event for which he was
an odds on chance.
Silviniaco Conti: Good over hurdles but always made to be a staying chaser and
impressive when winning Mildmay Novice Chase here in good style last year, and
even better this year, unbeaten over fences and cruising when coming down three
out in the Gold Cup (would have been third at worst, and previous finishing
style indicated he’d have been hard to beat); Only 20 days since but if
recovered, should go well and unlike many previous favourites, should like this
track more than most. 
The Giant Bolster: As talented as any staying chaser around
when it all falls right for him, as shown by Gold Cup second (beat Long Run
into third); Good reappearance when third in Betfair Chase but well beaten by Silviniaco
Conti when they met in February and would have been well beaten had he stayed
up in Gold Cup; More needed. 
Wayward Prince: 11 lengths second to Silviniaco Conti on
Charlie Hall an while he was ahead of Quito De La Roque when winner of Listed
chaser here, hard to make case for him on balance of form (would have been
behind Silviniaco in the Gold Cup). 
Whodoyouthink: Stable won this with 50/1 shot last year but
that one was a Grade 1 and multiple graded winner before; Flying too high.
VERDICT: This race is usually a graveyard for favorites –
many of those being horses who have come from the Gold Cup – but SILVINIACO
CONTI has a lot more going for him than most of those who failed to land the
odds and all but two of today’s field ran at the Cheltenham Festival – and
Quito De La Roque’s record at the top level is hardly encouraging. First
Lieutetant is a major threat over a trip and track that will suit him down to
the ground, while The Giant Bolster and Cape Tribulation should go well but
would have been well behind Silviniaco Conti had he stayed up at Cheltenham.
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