Liverpool's NHS Day preview and tips

ALL YOU NEED TO KNOW FOR day one of the randox grand national festival

Traditionally known as ‘Liverpool Day’, this year the opening day of the Grand National Festival celebrates NHS staff from across the region. The top class seven race card boasts four Grade One races in total including the Aintree Hurdle.

The Grade One Betway Bowl takes centre stage on the opening day of the Grand National Festival at Aintree. This race often sees recent Cheltenham Gold Cup runners locking horns once again over three miles and one furlong.

Here we share 1-2-3 tips and Tote Placepot picks for the day alongside an in-depth look at the feature race, the Betway Bowl.

Information is correct as of 6th April 2021 where the Going was described as good to soft. 

betway bowl chase - RACE GUIDE AND STATS

Race 3 (14:50) – Betway Bowl Chase (Grade 1) - 3 miles 210 yards

RUNNERS TO WATCH:

• Tiger Roll (11 year old, D Foster) – An icon of the sport and already an Aintree legend having won the last two Grand Nationals. Tasked with an alternative assignment at this year’s meeting in this Grade 1 and arrives in Liverpool on the back of a superb 18 length win at the Cheltenham Festival.
• Clan Des Obeaux (9 year old, P Nicholls) – A top class staying chaser. He finished 2nd in this race in 2019 and is a two-time King George VI Chase winner at Kempton. Bypassed the Cheltenham Festival in order to concentrate on this task. He looks the one to beat.
• Native River (11 year old, C Tizzard) – An admirable veteran with 11 wins in 21 chase starts and 2 wins from 3visits to Aintree so far. He could set the pace and may be tough to pass if recovered from his recent mammoth Cheltenham Gold Cup effort when 4th.
• Waiting Patiently (10 year old, R Jefferson) – A seriously talented horse but one that has struggled with injuries throughout his career. Comes here fresh after just 2 starts this season and certainly a threat at his very best, although hasn’t registered a win since February 2018.
• Clondaw Castle (9 year old, T George) – His form this season has skyrocketed with multiple career best efforts culminating in a Grade 3 handicap victory at Kempton in February. Even better form is required in this top level race, but not ruled out. Another who comes here fresh having missed Cheltenham.

LAST 5 WINNERS:

2019 – Kemboy 9/4                        Age 7                   Trainer: W. Mullins

2018 – Might Bite 4/5                     Age 9                  Trainer: N Henderson

2017 – Tea For Two 10/1                 Age 8                   Trainer: N Williams

2016 – Cue Card 6/5                      Age 10                  Trainer: C Tizzard

2015 – Silviniaco Conti 7/4            Age 9                    Trainer: P Nicholls

FOLLOW THE FORM:

From Cheltenham to Aintree – all of the last seven winners of this race ran at the Cheltenham Festival on their most recent start. Six of them ran in the Cheltenham Gold Cup. This year just two of the nine runners raced in the Cheltenham Gold Cup in March – Native River (4th) and Aso (8th).

HOT TRAINER:

Paul Nicholls has won this race 3 times in the past 10 years. This year he purposely missed the Gold Cup with Clan Des Obeaux to target this race. 

AGE STATS:

The last time this race was won by an 11-year-old was in 2005, so veterans Native River and Tiger Roll will be looking to buck this trend.

FOLLOW THE FAVOURITE?

Favourite friendly – four of the last five running’s of this race have been won by the favourite. However, between 2007 and 2014, the favourite failed to win this race.

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