Gold Cup fourth Holywell heads Aintree Bowl betting

Last month’s Cheltenham Gold Cup fourth Holywell is 7-4 favourite with Coral for Thursday’s Betfred Bowl, one of the highlights of the opening day of Aintree’s Grand National meeting.  The well-beaten Gold Cup favourite Silviniaco Conti is 11-4 to bounce back to form, ahead of Ma Filleule at 7-2.

“Although Silviniaco Conti has never shown his best form around Cheltenham, he did bounce back from a Gold Cup defeat to win the Aintree Bowl 12 months ago, but this time around we favour Holywell to confirm their Festival running,” said Coral’s David Stevens.

Taking place on the same day is the Doom Bar Aintree Hurdle, for which the Champion Hurdle runner-up Arctic Fire is the 2-1 market leader, with former Champion hurdlers Jezki and Rock On Ruby next at 5-2 and 3-1 respectively.

“Having beaten all bar his mighty stablemate Faugheen at Cheltenham last month, Arctic Fire sets the standard for what promises to be a terrific Aintree Hurdle, with two former Champion Hurdle winners leading the opposition,” said Coral’s David Stevens.

**Betfred Bowl

7-4 Holywell, 11-4 Silviniaco Conti, 7-2 Ma Filleule, 8 Menorah, 12 Smad Place, 14 Ballynagour, 25 Vukovar

**Doom Bar Aintree Hurdle

2 Arctic Fire, 5-2 Jezki, 3 Rock On Ruby, 10 Vaniteux, Volnay De Thaix, 16 Blue Heron, 33 Melodic Rendezvous

 **Betfred Topham Chase

10 Monetaire, Rajdhani Express, 12 Eastlake, 14 Rebel Rebellion, Ruben Cotter, The Package, 16 Bright New Dawn, Savello, Ballynagour, Darna, Bennys Mist, 20 Bar

 **Crabbie’s Grand National

7 Shutthefrontdoor, 10 Balthazar King, Rocky Creek, 12 The Druids Nephew, 16 Cause Of Causes, 20 Alvarado, Godsmejudge, Pineau De Re, Soll, Spring Heeled, Unioniste, 25 Gallant Oscar, Goonyella, Living Next Door, Many Clouds, 33 Bar