Bristol De Mai annihilates Betfair Chase field in heavy conditions at Haydock
Nigel Twiston-Davies has won another big Saturday pot and this time it was a certainty from some way out, as Bristol De Mai left his rivals legless with a bold Betfair Chase performance from the front.
NIGEL TWISTON-DAVIES is quite fond of Saturdays.
Last weekend Splash Of Ginge sparked chaotic celebrations in the Cheltenham winners’ enclosure.
Seven days later it was Bristol De Mai’s turn to land the Cotswolds trainer a big pot with a relentless display of jumping in Haydock’s Betfair Chase.
It was a performance of rare quality. The 11-10 favourite – notching up his second big Saturday victory of the season after his Charlie Hall Chase success three weeks ago – made all the running and drew right away down the straight.
He was so far clear of Cue Card – going for his fourth win in the race – that they will surely have remeasure the official yardage of a country mile.
A slight mistake two from home was the only blemish as Daryl Jacob coasted home on the most dashing of greys.
Twiston-Davies said: “I like Saturdays.
“You’re always planning for these races – it’s what training is all about. We do lay them out for the big races - we’re always going for prize money.
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“It’s lovely. We’ve got Cogry and Double Ross for the Ladbrokes Trophy and Blaklion for the Becher Chase. It will keep coming – we hope.”
The race appeared to have been robbed of much of its interest when Sizing John decided to stay in Ireland due to the softening ground.
Last season’s Gold Cup winner will lie in wait in the coming months but he will have to take on a Bristol De Mai who has come of age.
Yesterday’s devastating defeat of Cue Card was a clear handing over of the baton to the younger generation. He did not drop it.
Bristol De Mai – owned by Simon Munir and Isaac Souede – has always promised to develop into a top-class chaser.
He’s packed a lot into his six years but his Betfair Chase success was a clear personal best.
It was Twiston-Davies’ second Betfair Chase win after Imperial Commander seven years ago. It was telling the trainer was happy to compare Bristol De Mai to his Gold Cup winner.
He said: “He’s definitely an Imperial Commander type. He’s that sort of horse – a big strong, gorgeous horse.
“We’ll be thinking about the King George – it won’t possibly be this ground but he can have a canter around and see what it is.
“He’s got the engine and he can go faster than that.”
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Sun Bets cut Bristol De Mai to 8-1 for the King George and to 14s for the Gold Cup. Listening to Jacob after the race the 50-1 on offer for the Triple Crown might not be pie in the sky.
He said: “He’s a phenomenal horse, a beautiful horse. We’ve always thought the world of him
“Soft, heavy ground is the key to him and he likes it around here. He keeps finding and he’s a good jumper as well.”
Munir and Souede’s two-tone green colours were also in the Ascot winners’ enclosure with Top Notch.
Sun Racing columnist Nico de Boinville stood in for Jacob in the saddle and he steered Nicky Henderson’s ace to a smooth eight-length victory in the Christy 1965 Chase.
The same owner’s L’Ami Serge had to settle for second behind 9-4 shot Lil Rockerfeller in the Coral Hurdle where last season’s Triumph Hurdle hero Defi Du Seuil was a bitterly-disappointing fourth.
Winning trainer Neil King said: “That was super. It was very well deserved.
“He’s better over three miles these days and we will come back for the Long Walk Hurdle.”