Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
Double is ready to deliver
BRISTOL DE MAI can cash in on Sizing John’s absence by winning the Betfair Chase at Haydock today.
Even if Jessica Harrington’s Gold Cup hero had taken his chance on Merseyside, the six-year-old grey would still have had plenty in his favour.
And now the road is clear for Bristol De Mai to carry all before him.
Trainer Nigel Twistondavies will have the likeable chaser trained to the minute for this valuable Grade One, not least because he has already had a run this autumn.
That came at Wetherby earlier in the month, when he showed tenacity and class to defeat stablemate Blaklion, to whom he was giving 6lb, by half a length in the Charlie Hall Chase.
Haydock is also a happy hunting ground for Bristol De Mai, who produced one of the most accomplished performances of last season when he won the Peter Marsh Chase by 32 lengths.
Just as importantly, though, he loves running in testing conditions, which was the reason Sizing John has not travelled.
With three-time winner Cue Card possibly up against it in the twilight of his career and Outlander an awfully difficult horse to pin down, everything points towards a convincing
Bristol De Mai victory.
Le Rocher might be a value call in the Grade Three Betfair Stayers’ Handicap Hurdle.
The Grade One-winning seven-year-old has plenty of good form in heavy ground and should be a lot fitter than he was in the Silver Trophy at Chepstow last month.