Bristol De Mai wins Charlie Hall Chase as big guns fail to complete

Bristol De Mai edged out his Nigel Twiston-Davies-trained stablemate Blaklion in an eventful race for the bet365 Charlie Hall Chase at Wetherby.

Headline horses Coneygree and Cue Card did not complete the course as two greys dominated proceedings.

The race changed after Coneygree was pulled up by Nico de Boinville before the 10th fence after making the early running. Blaklion and Bristol De Mai were soon to the fore as the field set off on their second circuit.

There was all to play for when Cue Card fell five fences from home when still in contention after Daryl Jacob had sent Bristol De Mai to the front after seven out. Blaklion put in a strong challenge, but Bristol De Mai (6-1) was not for passing and crossed the line half a length to the good.

Twiston-Davies said: “Bristol De Mai doesn’t turn seven for a few weeks so he should be coming into his own this season, which is amazing given what he has already achieved.

“It will be the Betfair (Chase, Haydock) next for him. He should get his soft ground and he likes it there.

“Blaklion pleased me, too. He was getting 6lb so the handicapper shouldn’t be putting him up. That should leave him spot-on for the Becher Chase (Aintree).”

Connection of Coneygree were left dejected by the 2015 Gold Cup winner’s disappointing return.

Assistant trainer Sara Bradstock said: “He simply frightened himself at the ditch. He doesn’t do that normally and after that Nico said he was just scared.

“He pulled him up because he simply wasn’t jumping like he normally does and he wasn’t going to win. He is the best jumper in the world normally so something wasn’t right.

“Thankfully he seems fine. He’s got a little cut but nothing serious. Nico said the sun was very bright and it might be that he didn’t see the fence. We’ll go back to the drawing board now and try and get schooling him on the grass. We’ve only been able to do it on the all-weather up to now.”

Colin Tizzard reported Cue Card none the worse for his fall.

He said: “He’s OK, that’s the main thing, and so is Paddy (Brennan).

“He moved upsides just as the real race was starting and he just got it all wrong, which he has done in the past.”