Market Leader for the Betfair Chase Bristol De Mai will have his seasonal debut at the same place as he did last year after his trainer Nigel Twiston-Davies has announced he will not run on Saturday at Wetherby in the Charlie Hall Chase.
The grey gelding is going in search of his third straight victory in the Grade One Merseyside feature on November 23rd but surprisingly his trainer has decided not to give him a prep run before his first big test oft he season.
Back in 2017 Bristol De Mai landed the Charlie Hall Chase and Betfair Chase double landing the Haydock race by 57 lengths in heavy conditions seeing off the classy Cue Card with ease.
Last year in better conditions the eight year old took the Betfair chase by four lengths from the previous seasons Gold Cup winner Native River in what was the highlight of his season.
(Credit At The Races) “He’s not in the Charlie Hall. He’s going straight to Haydock. Everything’s OK with him,” said Twiston-Davies.
This decision is a strange one if the horse is fresh and ready to race but even with it being his first start of the season when he races at Haydock at the end of November, the market support is still strong for the horse owned by Isaac Souede and Simon Munir.
Bristol De Mai is still available at most high street bookmakers at 2/1 with Colin Tizzard's Lostintranslation the next best in the betting at 7/2.
Over at Haydock, a seriously impressive win for BRISTOL DE MAI over CUE CARD & TEA FOR TWO. Brilliant stuff. pic.twitter.com/6DAGnvbWa6
— Ascot Racecourse (@Ascot) November 25, 2017