Betway Bowl Chase (Grade 1)

Off time: 14:53 | Winning time: 6m 35.0s

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Selected odds by:

Balko Des Flos²¹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-7| J: Rachael Blackmore| T: H De Bromhead| OR: 161

20/1

Gigginstown second string; impressive 2018 Ryanair Chase winner; started 2/1, but was most disappointing in the Grade 1 Melling Chase (2m4f, soft) here last year, and has toiled almost continuously since; vulnerable.

Form: 14-4397

Bristol De Mai²⁰

Age: 8| Weight: 11-7| J: D A Jacob| T: N & W Twiston-Davies| OR: 172

7/2

Dispelled the can't act at Cheltenham myth with a brave 6¾L third-placed finish to Al Boum Photo in the Gold Cup (3m2f, good to soft); has competed in this race in each of the past two years, a 7L runner-up to Might Bite in 2018; live contender.

Form: 632-1F3

Clan Des Obeaux²⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 11-7| J: H Cobden| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 172

11/4

King George and Denman Chase winner; didn't appear to quite see out the 3m2f trip in the Cheltenham Gold Cup (fifth); not too far behind Bristol De Mai (3¼L) when finishing third to Might Bite in this race in 2018; remains ultra-competitive.

Form: 23-4115

Elegant Escape²⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 11-7| J: T J O'Brien| T: C L Tizzard| OR: 162

10/1

Tough, genuine, stamina-laden chaser; ploughed through the mud when winning the Welsh Grand National at Chepstow (3m5f); has broadly held his own outside of handicap company since (finished sixth in the Cheltenham Gold Cup); more required.

Form: 3-12126

Kemboy²⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 11-7| J: Ruby Walsh| T: W P Mullins| OR: 168

9/4

Headed into the Cheltenham Gold Cup as a progressive chaser, seeing off proven Grade 1 performers (incl Road To Respect) in the Savills Chase at Leopardstown (3m, good); on a recovery mission following his first fence mishap; conditions are perfect.

Form: F11-11U

Road To Respect²¹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-7| J: Sean Flanagan| T: N Meade| OR: 168| D

9/2

Kicked off the season with a seamless win in the Grade 1 JNwine.com Champion Chase at Down Royal and ultra-consistent since, including when finishing 3L third to Frodon in the Ryanair Chase; work to do with Kemboy based upon Leopardstown form.

Form: 43-1323

Forecasts

Kemboy (9/4), Clan Des Obeaux (11/4), Bristol De Mai (7/2), Road To Respect (9/2), Elegant Escape (10/1), Balko Des Flos (20/1)

A compact but very select field for the Grade 1 Betway Bowl. The Willie Mullins-trained KEMBOY is on a recovery mission following his first fence mishap in the Cheltenham Gold Cup, and with the benefit of hindsight that early departure could ultimately prove to be a blessing in disguise, as this progressive young chaser arrives fresh under his optimum racing conditions. On Savills Chase form he has the clear measure of the Ryanair Chase third Road To Respect with more significant threats likely to come from last year's second and third Bristol De Mai and Clan Des Obeaux, with the former finally dispelling the Cheltenham myth in no uncertain terms in the Gold Cup.