Bristol fashions repeat success
IT WAS billed as a rematch between jump racing’s two super heavyweights.
But Cheltenham Gold Cup first and second Native River and Might Bite were delivered a knockout blow by underdog Bristol De Mai in the Betfair Chase at Haydock.
Nigel Twiston-Davies’ flying grey was fitter and slicker over the fences under Daryl Jacob (below) to win the race for the second year running.
Some of the vanquished bemoaned the stiffness of the fences but Twiston-Davies was not complaining. He will now eye the King George VI Chase on Boxing Day for his horse – the second leg of the £1million Jockey Club Triple Crown.
He joked: “Hopefully they will stiffen the fences at Kempton on Boxing Day. It’s more fun in life being the underdog. When you know you can’t win, it’s great when you do.
“Bristol De Mai is always brilliant first time out. We had him fit. Maybe the others weren’t fit, I don’t know.”
In March, Native River and Might Bite produced one of the best equine battles in history at Cheltenham but they had to play second fiddle yesterday, with Native River second and Might Bite last of five. Might Bite’s run left jockey Nico de Boinville and trainer Nicky Henderson perplexed – although the rider was critical of the fences.
He said: “I don’t think the fences were fair today. They were too stiff.”
Henderson said: “He was ponderous over his fences. They built some big fences for today and he was not the only one of my horses who they caught out.”
Colin Tizzard was happy with Native River and delighted with Thistlecrack and both could head to Kempton on Boxing Day for the King George.