ASSIGNMENT’S NEW MISSION

Bristol’s shipshape

BRISTOL DE MAI will be “a formidable opponent to anyone” in Saturday’s Betfair Chase, the grey’s trainer Nigel Twiston-Davies claimed.

The seven-year-old (above) can be backed at 11-2 for the Grade 1 three-miler, despite trouncing his rivals by a record 57 lengths on heavy ground at Haydock 12 months ago.

Twiston-Davies, whose star tackles Native River and Might Bite, first and second in the Cheltenham Gold Cup last March, said: “He’s in good nick and as long as it’s good to soft, he’s a formidable opponent to anyone when he’s on song — and he seems to be.” FIRST ASSIGNMENT will bid to add to his widemargin success at Cheltenham last weekend in the Betfair Stayers’ Handicap Hurdle at Haydock on Saturday.

Ian Williams, whose five-year-old scored by nine lengths on the BetVictor Gold Cup undercard, said: “It was important to see how he had come out of the race, but he had his first canter back and we’re happy.

“Haydock will throw up different challenges but he had the speed to win over two miles and five at Cheltenham two starts ago.”

NICKY RICHARDS paid tribute to “everything you could want in a racehorse” following the death of former stable star Monet’s Garden at the age of 20.

The popular grey won 17 of his 32 races, including three victories in the Old Roan Chase at Aintree — a contest named in his honour since retirement in 2011. 12.45 COTTONVALE

1.15 ERAGON DE CHANAY (NB) 1.45 CAPELAND

2.15 RHYTHM IS A DANCER 2.45 CHILLI ROMANCE 3.20 CLONDAW RIGGER 3.55 STARSKY

12.45 MR MULLINER 1.15 ERAGON DE CHANAY 1.45 CAPELAND

2.15 ENRICHISSANT 2.45 MALANGEN 3.20 CLONDAW RIGGER 3.55 STARSKY