2.55 3m. 210yds. 7 Declared. William Hill Bowl Chase (Grade 1) (GBB Race) (Class 1 ) of £250,000.00 5-y-o plus
1st - €140,325.00 2nd - €52,775.00 3rd - €26,375.00 4th - €13,175.00 5th - €6,625.00 6th - €3,300.00 7th - €1,700.00 8th - €900.00 9th - €500.00 10th - €250.00
Formscan - Having landed the Ladbrokes Champion Chase at Down Royal in November, Gerri Colombe has had the unenviable task of chasing home Galopin Des Champs on his last two starts, most recently in the Gold Cup at Cheltenham. Gordon Elliott's eight-year-old is bound to be popular, but SHISHKIN gets the vote. Things haven't gone entirely to plan this season, but he looked the likely winner when unseating in the King George and then took the Denman Chase at Newbury. There have been shoots of life coming from the Nicky Henderson yard of late and last year's winner, who can emulate Docklands Express, Silviniaco Conti and Clan Des Obeaux in landing back-to-back renewals, might benefit from being fresher than his rivals. Corbetts Cross was a facile winner of the National Hunt Chase and Emmet Mullins' unexposed chaser might yet be capable at this level, while it would be dangerous to rule out Ahoy Senor, who will relish the return to this venue.