Mai gives Twiston Shout: If Haydock’s card passes inspection Bristol De Mai’s prospects are bright

Connections from BRISTOL DE MAI (Haydock, 2.40) will be desperate for today’s prized Haydock card to pass an early morning inspection as their unwavering gaze holds good prospects for another course win in the Peter Marsh Handicap Chase.

The popular grey, who thrived on this afternoon’s 2017 rematch, has found Grade One Company a little too hot to handle lately, as evidenced by his 21-hole loss to Protectorate at the Betfair Chase ahead of Christmas.

However, he was far from disgraced at this event on his favorite stomping ground, especially as his conqueror now has a single-digit price for March’s Gold Cup and Bristol De Mai was about to turn 12.

Bristol De Mai looks forward to another Haydock win if the course passes its 8am inspection

A return to handicap company seems a much fairer proposition for the veteran these days, and his 154 mark is identical to the rating he achieved at this event all those years ago. Mastering small fields on deep ground has always been Bristol De Mai’s forte, as indicated by a record seven wins from 19 starts in races with six runners or fewer.

Should the meeting get the green light, the selection coached by Nigel Twiston-Davies will also likely enjoy whatever conditions he might face – he has a Haydock record of four wins from as many runs on heavy ground.

Venetia Williams has landed the last two heats of the Peter Marsh and the Herefordshire handler relies on Fontaine Collonges, winner of a course and distance handicap on the same day that Bristol De Mai took part in the Betfair Chase. Fontaine Collonges enjoys a weight concession from Bristol De Mai, but his time in the win in his last start was 13 seconds slower (or about 65 lengths) than Protectorate in the win, leaving Bristol De Mai much more even with a loss margin of 21 lengths on the clock as its main competitor.

Of course things are seldom as simple as this rather rudimentary equation, but if Bristol De Mai can repeat that level then he should be able to turn back the years.

Nigel Twiston-Davies coaches the selection who are likely to enjoy the tough goings at Haydock

Twiston-Davies ran the Unibet Hurdle for a number of seasons with The New One and it’s nice that sponsors have recognized the achievements today by naming the race after the popular hurdler.

I Like To Move It is trying to follow in the footsteps of its illustrious predecessor and should appreciate the two mile drop and forcing tactics.

However, the talented EPATANTE (Haydock, 2.05) stands in the way of another Twiston Davies win and should prove hard to beat after coming up against the mighty Constitution Hill in her last two starts.

Epatante, right, stands in the way of Saturday’s Twiston-Davies I Like To Move It win

A total of 28 jockeys and 43 rides breached the revised whip rules in the first week of the embedding period for jumping jockeys, according to data from the British Horseracing Authority’s new three-man whip review board.

The BHA said: “There is no evidence that the number of referrals is due to a general disregard of the condition deadline. We have seen clear signs that jockeys are taking steps to ride within the new rules.’

The Clarence House Chase, which was due to take place at Ascot as part of today’s abandoned card, will now take place at Cheltenham next Saturday.

Haydock’s card needs to be checked at 8am today.