CONNECTIONS

of Bristol De Mai are putting a line through his recent lifeless run at Newbury.

The Cheltenham Gold Cup beckons again after a valid reason emerged for the disappointing effort.

He was found to have knocked a joint, which also had a cut.

“The day after he ran Nigel [Twiston-Davies] reported he was very lame,” said Anthony Bromley, racing manager to owners Simon Munir and Isaac Souede.

“He gave his near-fore joint a whack and it took him a few days to get over it, but he was back cantering again at the weekend.”