Walsh takes Bowl Chase with Friend
What A Friend won an incident-packed renewal of the totesport Bowl at Aintree to give part-owner Alex Ferguson some compensation for Manchester United’s elimination from the Champions League on Wednesday.
Gold Cup winner Imperial Commander never appeared to be travelling with the same enthusiasm as at Cheltenham and eventually unseated Paddy Brennan at the 14th fence.
Nacarat and Carruthers were battling for the lead throughout and turning for home Tony McCoy appeared to hold all the aces on the former.
However, he belted the first fence in the straight and lost all chance.
Carruthers then looked the likeliest winner but a sticky leap at the last left the Paul Nicholls-trained What A Friend (5-2) and jockey Ruby Walsh with an advantage he would not relinquish and he won by three and a quarter lengths.
