Racecards
15:00 Haydock Park
Betfair Chase (Grade 1) (Registered As The Lancashire Chase) (Class 1)
- 5 Runners
- Distance: 3m 1f 125y
- Going: Good (Good to Soft in places )
- Surface: Turf
- £200,000 added
- Winner: £112,540
- 2nd: £42,400
- 3rd: £21,220
- 4th: £10,600
- Form 5/11632-
- Age 7
- Weight 11-7
- Official Rating 165
- Trainer N & W Twiston-Davies
- Jockey D A Jacob
led until 4th, led again 6th, headed 13th, led again 4 out, drew clear approaching last, stayed on well
- Form 14/2123-
- Age 6
- Weight 11-7
- Official Rating 157
- Trainer P F Nicholls
- Jockey H Cobden
chased leaders, not fluent 8th, driven to challenge 2 out, no impression
Might Bite (IRE)
226- Form 11/1121-
- Age 9
- Weight 11-7
- Official Rating 172
- Trainer N J Henderson
- Jockey N de Boinville
tracked leaders, pushed along 4 out, weakened approaching 2 out
- Form 1113/11-
- Age 8
- Weight 11-7
- Official Rating 176
- Trainer C L Tizzard
- Jockey R Johnson
prominent, led 4th, headed 6th, not fluent 11th, led again 13th, headed 4 out, stayed on same pace from 2 out
Thistlecrack
333- Form 1112/54-
- Age 10
- Weight 11-7
- Official Rating 165
- Trainer C L Tizzard
- Jockey T Scudamore
held up in touch, mistakes 8th and 6 out, chased leaders before 4 out, no extra from 2 out
Previous results
In depth
Verdict
Bristol De Mai won last year’s renewal in testing going by a country mile but was no match for MIGHT BITE in the Grade 1 Aintree Bowl in April. The latter was at his brilliant best on that occasion when also beating Clan Des Obeaux and Nicky Henderson’s chaser had earlier finished five lengths in front of Thistlecrack when landing the King George at Kempton. It’s difficult to see either of that pair reversing running today but the latter’s stablemate Native River should make a race of it. Colin Tizzard’s charge beat Might Bite in a thrilling renewal of the Cheltenham Gold Cup in March and though he’d prefer more cut in the ground, he should still be bang there at the finish having placed on a faster surface in the Gold Cup last year.
Formwatch
Bristol De Mai (FR) 5-1 (11-7) Led, headed 2 out, ridden before last, kept on same pace, 2nd of 8, 7l behind Might Bite (11-7) at Aintree 3m 1f (1) gs in Apr.
Clan Des Obeaux (FR) 8-1 (11-7) Prominent, ridden before 2 out, kept on same pace, 3rd of 8, 10 1/4l behind Might Bite (11-7) at Aintree 3m 1f (1) gs in Apr.
Might Bite (IRE) 4-5fav (11-7) With leader, mistake 4 out, led 2 out, ran on well, won at Aintree 3m 1f (1) gs in Apr beating Bristol De Mai (11-7) by 7l, 8 ran.
Native River (IRE) 5-1 (11-10) Led but pressed by runner-up throughout, ridden after 3 out, headed narrowly 2 out, led again last, went 2 lengths clear 100 yards out, stayed on well, drawing further away when edged right towards finish, won at Cheltenham 3m 2f (1) sft in Mar beating Might Bite (11-10) by 4 1/2l, 15 ran.
Thistlecrack 5-1 (11-10) Tracked leaders, ridden to chase winner after 4 out until 3 out, one pace when not fluent 2 out, no extra run in, 4th of 8, 5 3/4l behind Might Bite (11-10) at Kempton 3m (1) sft in Dec.