Gold Cup third Protektorat out to prove best of British in Bowl at Aintree

Thursday: 2.55 Aintree
Betway Bowl Chase (Grade 1) | 3m1f | 5yo+ | ITV/RTV

Cheltenham Gold Cup third Protektorat will be out to prove he is Britain's top staying chaser as he puts his unbeaten Aintree record on the line in the Grand National meeting's day one highlight.

Although well held by A Plus Tard at Cheltenham, Protektorat might have taken second with a better jump at the last and connections are pleased with the way he has come out of the Gold Cup.

The youngest in the Bowl field aged seven, the Dan Skelton-trained chaser showcased his exciting ability on this card 12 months ago by winning the Manifesto Novices' Chase and then turned the Many Clouds Chase here in December into a procession.

"He's two from two at Aintree and has come out of the Gold Cup nicely," said Skelton. "There's a bit of rain forecast and we've got to give it a go. It's highly competitive but we bring some nice form from the Gold Cup.

"I was very happy with the Gold Cup run. With a better jump at the last we might have been second, which upgrades it all a little, but the winner that day was imperious and is clearly the best three-mile-plus horse around."

One of two chances in the race for part-owners Sir Alex Ferguson and Ged Mason, who also have a share in last year's winner Clan Des Obeaux, Protektorat went into the Gold Cup a fresh horse following a 104-day layoff, but has a 20-day turnaround to contend with this time.

"The Gold Cup is barely over the horizon but you can't change the timing of the races and I'm happy with him at home – I wouldn't be running him otherwise," Skelton said.

"I ran West Cork at Ayr last Saturday with a quicker turnaround from Cheltenham and it made no difference to him, but you just don't know until you run them."

New headgear for last year's winner

Clan Des Obeaux was a wide-margin winner of the race last year in first-time cheekpieces and trainer Paul Nicholls has switched up the headgear to assist his bid for a repeat.

The two-time King George winner came alive in the aid last spring, following up a 26-length victory here by beating the Irish in their own backyard at Punchestown.

Following a below-par run behind the reopposing Eldorado Allen and Royale Pagaille in the Denman Chase in February when the Nicholls stable was struggling for form, Clan Des Obeaux will make his first start since in first-time blinkers instead of cheekpieces.

"He worked nicely on Saturday with blinkers on and they're on to just sharpen him up a little bit," Nicholls said. "The only thing is he's ten now and not getting any younger, so he's not going to get any better.

"It's a tough looking race and he needs to take a step forward from Newbury, just on the bare form. But he did last year, he got beaten by Secret Investor and then took a step forward in the spring, so hopefully he'll do the same again."

Nicholls has won the Bowl a record five times, including with back-to-back winner Silviniaco Conti, and the conditions appear ideal for Clan Des Obeaux albeit in a stronger-looking race than last year.

"If he gets his form back together like he did last spring, then hopefully he'll run very well," said Nicholls. "He likes Aintree, the flat track suits him and we're happy with him."

'He's very good on a going day'

Tiger Roll made a surprise appearance in this race 12 months ago, but Gigginstown House Stud have a more traditional candidate this time in Irish Gold Cup winner Conflated.

The Gordon Elliott-trained eight-year-old's steady progress this season soared off the charts when he was a shock 18-1 winner at Leopardstown in February, beating Minella Indo by six and a half lengths with Thursday's rival Kemboy back in fifth.

Gigginstown opted for the Ryanair over the Cheltenham Gold Cup and although no match for Allaho, Conflated was running on late and looked likely to finish second but for falling two out.

"He would have been a good second in the Ryanair had he not come down at the second-last and he was a very good winner of the Irish Gold Cup before that," said Elliott.

"I know Conflated is not a horse you can trust but he's very good when he's on a going day. Hopefully, he's on a going day here."

Previous winner Kemboy back for more

Kemboy returns to Aintree for the first time since a totally dominant victory in this race three years ago, when he beat last year's winner Clan Des Obeaux by nine lengths.

A lot of water has passed under the bridge since that victory under Ruby Walsh, who retired from the saddle a few weeks later, but the Willie Mullins-trained ten-year-old has remained a force to be reckoned with at Grade 1 level.

He won last season's Irish Gold Cup and although he was disappointing in his defence of that race last time, before that he finished just on the coattails of Galvin and A Plus Tard in the Savills Chase.

Mullins, who sends a small but select team to Aintree following his record-breaking Cheltenham Festival, resisted the urge of running Kemboy in the Cheltenham Gold Cup – a race he contested the previous three years – in order to keep him fresh for this assignment.

"He loves the track and was very good in the Bowl a few years ago so we decided to skip Cheltenham this year and aim for Aintree instead," the trainer said.

Eldorado Allen form stands out

Colin Tizzard will be looking to sign off with a big win at Aintree this week and the trainer holds strong claims with Eldorado Allen in a race he won with the mighty Cue Card in 2016.

Eldorado Allen was bogged down in the ground when a well-held third behind Allaho in the Ryanair, but prior to that won the Denman Chase from Royale Pagaille and Clan Des Obeaux.

Eldorado Allen: 'He's been in cracking form all season'Credit: Mark Cranham (racingpost.com/photos)

Tizzard is set to hand over the reins in due course to son and assistant Joe, who believes the return to a flat track on better ground will suit Eldorado Allen.

"He's been in cracking form all season. His best form was in the Denman in similar conditions, a flat three miles on decent ground," he said.

"He ran really well in the Ryanair, taking on something we probably couldn't beat. He's beat a couple of these before, Clan Des Obeaux and Royale Pagaille, and although the Gold Cup third is the one to beat [Protektorat], he seems in really good nick."

What the rest say

Nigel Twiston-Davies, trainer of Bristol De Mai
We were hoping for some rain but it doesn't look like it'll turn up. The more rain the better but he's a top-class horse and has proved that so I'm looking forward to running him.

Olly Murphy, trainer of Itchy Feet
He's in good form and we've put a line through his Kelso run. He does save his best for Aintree so hopefully he can run well at a big price.

Ann Hamilton, trainer of Nuts Well
He's up against it but we haven't got anywhere else to go. He likes Aintree and we just hope he runs his race. We thought about going back for the two-and-a-half race [Marsh Chase on Friday], but he got the three miles fine at Kelso. They'll be going a lot faster, though, and it's whether he'll have anything left to stay on.

Venetia Williams, trainer of Royale Pagaille
He ran well in the Gold Cup and was not beaten far by the third. Any rain would be appreciated and we’re hoping he’s going to be competitive.

Thursday's Aintree previews:

1.45 Aintree: 'This was always the target' – Nicholls hoping to crack Grade 1 with Pic D'Orhy

2.20 Aintree: 'You'd like to think he'll take a bit of beating' – Elliott confident in Piper

2.55 Aintree: Gold Cup third Protektorat out to prove best of British in Bowl at Aintree

3.30 Aintree: intermediate trip sets up fascinating clash between Epatante and Zanahiyr

4.05 Aintree: is Jett ready for take-off? Expert analysis and key quotes on the Foxhunters'

4.40 Aintree: front-running Before Midnight could be the one in a fast and furious Red Rum

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