History
The event was established in 1984, and it was originally designed as a consolation prize for horses which were beaten or had been unable to participate in the previous month's Cheltenham Gold Cup. The inaugural running was backed by Perrier-Jouët, and it was titled the Perrier-Jouët Champagne Cup. For the following three years it was sponsored by Whitbread and called the Whitbread Gold Label Cup.
Subsequent sponsors have included Martell (the Martell Cup, the Martell Cognac Cup) and Betfair (the Betfair Bowl). Totesport began supporting the event as the Totesport Bowl in 2008 and the sponsorship was taken over by Betfred in 2012 after that company purchased The Tote in 2011. Betway took over sponsorship from the 2017 running. For the 2023 edition the race was run as the Alder Hey Aintree Bowl as part of the 21st anniversary of the partnership between Aintree Racecourse and the Alder Hey Children's Charity.[1]
The race was promoted to Grade 1 status in 2010. It is currently held on the opening day of the three-day Grand National meeting.
Records
Most successful horse (2 wins):
- Wayward Lad – 1985, 1987
- Docklands Express – 1993, 1994
- First Gold – 2001, 2003
- Silviniaco Conti – 2014, 2015
- Clan Des Obeaux – 2021, 2022
Leading jockey (2 wins):
- Richard Dunwoody – Aquilifer (1991), Docklands Express (1994)
- Thierry Doumen – First Gold (2001, 2003)
- Tony McCoy – Tiutchev (2004), Exotic Dancer (2007)
- Timmy Murphy – Celestial Gold (2006), Our Vic (2008)
- Noel Fehily – Silviniaco Conti (2014, 2015)
- Paddy Brennan – Nacarat (2011), Cue Card (2016)
- Ruby Walsh – What A Friend (2010), Kemboy (2019)
- Harry Cobden – Clan Des Obeaux (2021, 2022)
- Nico de Boinville – Might Bite (2018), Shishkin (2023)
Leading trainer (6 wins):
- Paul Nicholls – See More Business (2000), What a Friend (2010), Silviniaco Conti (2014, 2015), Clan Des Obeaux (2021, 2022)
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