Why racing is not a ‘posh’ sport

Why hasn’t Bristol De Mai become as beloved by the racing public as his fellow greys Desert Orchid and One Man were? Probably because the jumping world has become obsessed with the Cheltenham Festival and the best Bristol De Mai has achieved there is a third place in the 2019 Gold Cup. For quite some time Bristol’s trainer, Nigel Twiston-Davies, has declared that his stable star has not been given the credit due to him and he has had good reason: after Bristol De Mai’s victory in Haydock Park’s Betfair Chase last weekend, there can be no doubt about his rightful place in the pantheon of top chasers. People like me who did not back him last Saturday at odds of 9-4 need their heads examining.

I didn’t do so because earlier in the week, in sunshine, I had backed Colin Tizzard’s Lostintranslation, who beat Bristol De Mai in the race last year, and because there was every sign that Paul Nicholls was making the Betfair Chase the principal target this season for his Clan Des Obeaux, twice a winner of the King George VI Chase at Kempton. Certainly, with Messrs Twiston-Davies, Tizzard and Nicholls having won 13 of the 15 Betfair Chases between them, there were only three serious candidates, and when on Saturday the Lancashire rain came down in torrents I groaned and regretted my bet. Jockey Daryl Jacob, riding Bristol De Mai, looked heavenwards with a smile and texted owners Simon Munir and Isaac Souede saying: ‘I’ve never been so happy to ride in the rain.’

Bristol De Mai loves Haydock Park anytime and adores it when the ground gets heavy. He won the first two of his six races at the track by 32 and 22 lengths.