Bristol ship shape for Aintree test
BRISTOL DE MAI can show the benefit of a mid-season break by downing Might Bite in the Betfair Bowl at Aintree today.
This race has a history of throwing up the odd shock and while Nigel TwistonDavies’ grey winning would not be a huge surprise, he does have plenty of ground to make up on Nicky Henderson’s Gold Cup runnerup from the King George.
However, following his subsequent defeat behind Definitly Red in the Cotswold Chase, TwistonDavies decided he would be better off skipping the Gold Cup and the Betfair Chase winner underwent a small wind operation.
There appeared to be no excuses at Kempton when Might Bite burned Bristol De Mai off on the second circuit, but if he was struggling with his breathing that would go some way to explaining it.
Of course, Might Bite has to prove he is over his battle royal with Native River in the Gold Cup and with the ground set to be soft again, he might just have the sting taken out of him.
With Buveur D’Air out of the way, Supasundae appears to face a pretty straightforward task in the Betway Aintree Hurdle.
Winner of the Irish Champion Hurdle and second to Penhill in the Stayers’ Hurdle at Cheltenham, this twoand-a-half-mile trip should arguably be his optimum. His main rivals, The New One and L’Ami Serge, were a long way behind at Cheltenham and My Tent or Yours is not the same horse on soft ground.
The others all have plenty to find on the figures so Supasundae will have to run a long way below par to be turned over.
The Big Buck’s Celebration Manifesto Novices’ Chase can go the way of Dan Skelton’s mare Rene’s Girl.
Skelton has been aiming at this for some time and the 7lb sex allowance puts her right in the mix.
Gary Moore’s Et Moi Alors had a big reputation before his debut and had the race in the bag at Ascot only to fall late on.
Surprisingly he was turned over next time, but the winner that day, Notre Ami, won again earlier this week, so Moore’s runner may represent value in the Doom Bar Anniversary 4-Y-O Juvenile Hurdle.