Two value bets for the Aintree Bowl
While this year’s Aintree Bowl is shaping up to be a blockbuster fixture contested by heavyweights Shishkin, Bravemansgame, Ahoy Senor and potentially A Plus Tard – there are a number of horses whose talent and form would suggest that they are more than a good chance of challenging in the three-mile and one-furlong affair taking place on April 13.
Therefore, without further ado, let’s take a look at the two thoroughbreds who are of good value when dissecting the Aintree Bowl Betting Odds.
Protektorat
A multiple-time graded winner, the Dan Skelton-trained Protektorat has more than enough ability to challenge the aforementioned favourites come race day. The eight-year-old has widened in the betting lines due to poor back-to-back performances at Cheltenham’s Prestbury Park, in which he recorded a result of fourth and fifth respectively.
His most recent outing in the Gold Cup was particularly uninspiring, as he struggled to keep up with the leaders down the stretch and ultimately finished more than 15 lengths off eventual winner Galopin Des Champs.
Protektorat does have course form however, having won the Manifesto Novices’ Chase in 2021 by 11 lengths from respected thoroughbreds The Shunter and Hitman. With that in mind, the French-bred horse is not one to write off – and for those interested in placing a bet on him to upset the applecart and finish first past the post in the Aintree Bowl – Protektorat is paying 16/1 with certain operators at the time of writing – which is good for seventh favourite.
Conflated
While 11/4 is hardly an outsider, you could make the argument that it is still a value bet considering Conflated’s course, distance and recent form. In addition to finishing runner up in the same race last year, the Gordon Elliott-trained nine-year-old looked mightily impressive in his third-place run in the Cheltenham Gold Cup.
His Gold Cup showing was particularly notable as he was hampered early on and was required to do plenty of work late to challenge leaders Galopin Des Champs and Bravemansgame. He managed to do so and put forward an honest account for himself – and when his owner spoke with the press after the Gold Cup, they appeared more than pleased with his run in the Festival’s feature race.
“It was a fantastic run (in the Gold Cup), we were thrilled with the performance and it was a great ride,” Gigginstown racing manager Eddie O’Leary said.
“He’s a very nice horse and two very good horses beat us. But we know we have a nice horse and we’ll enjoy him while he’s around.
“I know Gordon says he’s well handicapped and he may well be, but if he goes back to the Bowl, hopefully we won’t meet the Gold cup first or second there. He’s better going left-handed so we would rather go to Aintree than Punchestown.”
With all of that in mind, if Conflated can avoid making mistakes throughout the early proceedings – expect him to be there or thereabouts in this year’s Aintree Bowl.