William Hill Bowl Chase (Grade 1) (GBB Race)

Off time: 14:55 | Winning time: 6m 51.54s

Ahoy Senor²⁸

Age: 9| Weight: 11-10| J: D R Fox| T: Miss Lucinda V Russell| OR: 158| CD

17/2

Top-class chaser on his day with a fine record here (Grade 1 winner over hurdles/fences) and ended last term with an excellent second behind Shishkin in this race. Efforts this season have been underwhelming on the whole but not out of the question a return to this venue could spark a revival.

Form: 2-PP436

Bravemansgame^p1²⁷

Age: 9| Weight: 11-10| J: H Cobden| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 167

11/1

Last season's King George hero who hasn't quite been operating at same level this term, despite finishing runner-up to Hewick in this year's renewal. Could only muster a fifth place finish behind Galopin Des Champs in last month's Gold Cup but interesting connections now opt for cheekpieces.

Form: 23-2225

Corbetts Cross^h³⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 11-10| J: Mark Walsh| T: E Mullins| OR: 157

10/3

Upwardly-mobile hurdler and even better form over fences this campaign, running out a most impressive winner in a first-time hood of last month's National Hunt Chase at the Festival. This demands further progress back at the top table but highly unlikely he's reached his limit on that evidence.

Form: R-312F1

Gentlemansgame^t²⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 11-10| J: Darragh O'Keeffe| T: M F Morris| OR: 160

16/1

Smart staying hurdler who made a fine start over fences, putting race-fitness to good use and capitalising on Bravemansgame's final fence blunder when landing the Charlie Hall (24.2f, heavy) at Wetherby in November. Never figured in Gold Cup only start since and more needed. Tongue strap back on.

Form: 13/1-21P

Gerri Colombe²⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 11-10| J: Jack Kennedy| T: G Elliott| OR: 170| CD

9/4

Top-class chaser who ran out an impressive winner of C&D Grade 1 here 12 months ago and he's enhanced his form subsequently, arriving here on back of a fine second behind Galopin Des Champs in last month's Cheltenham Gold Cup. Conditions fine and major claims with a repeat.

Form: 121-122

Shishkin⁶¹

Age: 10| Weight: 11-10| J: N de Boinville| T: N J Henderson| OR: 173| CD

5/2

Brilliant chaser on his day, strong at finish when landing this race 12 months ago. Blotted his copybook by refusing to race on Ascot reappearance but looked in control when unseating 2 out in King George a month later and landed the odds in Gr 2 Denman at Newbury (3m, soft) since. Big player again.

Form: 121-RU1

Thunder Rock⁴⁰

Age: 8| Weight: 11-10| J: S Bowen| T: O Murphy| OR: 156

22/1

Smart chaser who scored on return at Carlisle but let down by jumping faced with a well-run top-level handicap at Cheltenham next time. Much more assured in that department since, second at Musselburgh prior to listed success at Kelso (23.4f) 6 weeks ago. Still, likely to come up short here.

Form: 62-1P21

Forecasts

Gerri Colombe (9/4), Shishkin (5/2), Corbetts Cross (10/3), Ahoy Senor (17/2), Bravemansgame (11/1), Gentlemansgame (16/1), Thunder Rock (22/1)

A winner at this meeting 12 months ago, GERRI COLOMBE ran the race of his life when finding only Galopin Des Champs too good in last month's Cheltenham Gold Cup and a repeat of that sort of performance can see Gordon Elliott's prolific 8-y-o prove a tough nut to crack here. That said, Shishkin, who missed the Festival, is likely to put up a bold bid to defend his crown, whilst 7-y-o Corbetts Cross, who ran out an authoritative winner of the NH Chase last month, is another to consider.