Gerri Colombe shows mettle to land Aintree Bowl

Gerri Colombe battled to victory to take the William Hill Bowl Chase at Aintree.

Gordon Elliott's Cheltenham Gold Cup runner-up was sent off the 9-4 favourite and travelled competitively throughout under Jack Kennedy.

He was ridden rounding the home turn but as stamina came to the fore up the run in, he locked horns with Ahoy Senor.

While Lucinda Russell’s charge did his best to fight back up the inside, Gerri Colombe was just too strong and came home half a length in front.

Corbetts Cross finished a further two and a quarter lengths back in third.

Elliott hailed Gerri Colombe's winning spirit, with another Gold Cup challenge already on his mind.

He said: "He was very tough, Jack said it wasn’t happening the whole way and he felt a bit flat the whole way, but it shows the guts the horse has that he still won.

"Jack said he probably ended up in front too soon in the end, but he’s a great horse who only does what he has to do and we’re lucky to have him.

"Believe it or not, I actually think he could be a bit better on better ground.

"All roads lead back to the Gold Cup next year, we’ll probably go the same route again and keep dreaming."

Sir Gino preserved his flawless record with a neat victory in the Boodles Anniversary 4-Y-O Juvenile Hurdle at Aintree.

Nicky Henderson's gelding missed the Cheltenham Festival as the stable was under a cloud and looked to claim his first Grade One in Liverpool instead.

Under Nico de Boinville, he did so with little fuss, winning comfortably as the 11-10 favourite after a good jump at the last.

Henderson said: "We knew what we were walking into and while it is a relief, one swallow doesn’t make a summer as they say.

"He galloped right through the line in what was a messy race, it was awfully stop-start.