These fences were just not fair, says Nico after bringing up rear

JOCKEY Nico De Boinville took a swipe at the Haydock fences, saying they were not ‘fair’ after hot favourite Might Bite trailed in last of five runners in the Betfair Chase yesterday.

Victory for the second year running in the £200,000 chase went to Nigel Twiston-Davies’ Bristol De Mai.

But while the Merseyside crowd showed their appreciation for the 13-2 winner, who has never been beaten in four races at the track, there was concern for even-money shot Might Bite.

The 2017 King George VI Chase winner who was runner-up to Native River in the Cheltenham Gold Cup in March was beaten by almost 30 lengths and virtually walked over the finishing line.

There had been plenty of talk among racing pros about the state of the fences for Haydock’s first meeting of the jumps season.

Many said they were stiffer and a more serious challenge. There were seven falls or unseated riders from the 25 runners in the four chases.

Before the race, TV cameras captured Might Bite’s trainer Nicky Henderson giving them a close inspection. Haydock clerk of the course Kirkland Tellwright insisted the fences had been built to the same specifications as previously.

De Boinville (above) said: ‘I’d say he has run well, for the most part. The fences are very upright and big. They are stiff and solid. I don’t think they were fair. We will have to get him back home and slick and quick over fences again.’

Henderson said: ‘He has had a blow turning for home. They have built some big fences. It has got him up in the air a bit and he has used up too much jumping. Normally his jumping is deadly but that is not the whole story. His work had been terrific but maybe he was not as straight as I thought he was.’