Weekend Review

Nigel Twiston-Davies signalled his intent as he dominated the bet365 Charlie Hall Chase at Wetherby, the feature event over jumps on a busy international weekend.

The Naunton handler showed he had placed Bristol De Mai and stable companion Blaklion to perfection as the pair capitalised on the early departures of 2015 Gold Cup winner Coneygree and the ever-popular Cue Card to fight out the finish.

And it was Bristol De Mai who secured top honours to initiate a likely return to the top table.

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. That should leave him spot-on for the Becher Chase (Aintree)."

Jonjo O'Neill was talking in terms of the Grand National for Go Conquer following his win in the Sodexo Gold Cup Handicap Chase at Ascot, with 16-1 shot Outlander creating a Grade One surprise in the JNwine.com Champion Chase at Down Royal.

Our Duke was expected to shine on his return but he scoped abnormally after trailing home last behind the Gordon Elliott-trained winner.

Victorious rider Jack Kennedy said: "He never missed a beat the whole way and he jumped brilliant. The cheekpieces seemed to help as he travelled great."

Outlander runs in the colours of Gigginstown House Stud and they were also on the mark with Disko in the MyCarNeedsA.com Chase.

Over in America, it was day two of the Breeders' Cup meeting at Del Mar with wall-to-wall Grade One action highlighted by Gun Runner's impressive front-running success in the Classic as favourite Arrogate failed to sparkle on his final start before retirement.

French master Andre Fabre chalked up another Turf success with Talismanic, while William Buick scored his first Breeders' Cup victory courtesy of the Charlie Appleby-trained Wuheida in the Filly & Mare Turf.

He said: "I've had plenty of goes and not been successful, so it means everything."

Willoughby Court, a Cheltenham Festival winner over hurdles last term, gave his supporters a fright on the way to making a winning debut over fences in the 188Bet-sponsored novices'chase at Huntingdon, but his trainer Ben Pauling was happy enough.

He said: "The two-and-a-half-mile Grade Two at the Hennessy meeting would be our next port of call.

"There will be plenty of people queuing up to take him on now. I invite them to come and have a go."

At Carlisle, Malcolm Jefferson's Waiting Patiently made it four from four over fences with a sound display in the Colin Parker Memorial Intermediate Chase.

In Ireland, Colin Keane celebrated being crowned champion jockey for the first time with a Naas double on Inscribe and Warnaq - taking his tally to 100 on the last day of the season.