BRISTOL IN NEED OF SOFT OPTION

BRISTOL DE MAI needs rain if he is to bid to repeat last year’s victory in the Charlie Hall Chase at Wetherby a week on Saturday.

The grey, trained by Nigel Twiston-Davies (above) beat stablemate Blaklion in the Grade 2 three-miler in 2017 prior to a thumping 57-length supremacy in Haydock’s top-level Betfair Chase.

“The plan is to go for the Charlie Hall, then hopefully the Betfair Chase but we wouldn’t want to run him on good to firm ground,” said Anthony Bromley, racing manager to the gelding’s owners Simon Munir and Isaac Souede.