HAYDOCK PARK 15:00

All 6 ran. Fences: 19. Race Distance Adjustment: +18 yds

Time: 7m 0.6s Closing Sectional: (2.9f): 50s (95.1%)

Overrounds: Industry SP 113%, Betfair SP 100.6%

The 13th running of the Betfair Chase had a new distance, almost a furlong-and-a-half further than previous runnings, plus in line with that they jumped an extra fence, a decision taken after feedback from jockeys that the track may not ride as sharp if the start was taken back and they didn't go straight into a bend; the race was dealt a blow in the week leading up to the race as multiple top-level winner Sizing John was kept in Ireland amid ground concerns, though even had he taken his chance he'd have been unable to contain Bristol de Mai, who ran a trio of other calendar-year Grade 1 winners into the ground from the front; such a wide-margin win under extreme conditions isn't easy to rate with absolute confidence, but a time comparison with the concluding handicap chase suggests this was certainly a performance into the 170s, right up to the 5-year standards for this race.

BRISTOL DE MAI (FR) who again wore earplugs, has come back this season better than ever and stepped up from his Charlie Hall win to record an emphatic Grade 1 success with a truly top-class performance regardless of whether his rivals gave their running or not, part of the reason for that the relentless gallop that Bristol de Mai set and was able to maintain on such testing ground, a point further evidenced by the time comparison with the following handicap at the trip, this over 10 seconds faster; he made all and travelled strongly, going best long before he drew clear approaching 4 out and in full control when untidy 2 out, most impressive; there's no question that he's tremendously effective at this track on heavy ground, not only unbeaten in 3 starts here (all under bottomless conditions) but never off the bridle for any of those wide-margin wins, but until he proves that he can repeat this level of performance elsewhere there'll remain a cloud over his potential brilliance, something clearly to consider with regards his King George chance, which would be enhanced no end should the heavens open, something also applicable to a potential second bid at the Cheltenham Gold Cup.

CUE CARD looked a shadow of the horse that had won the last 2 renewals of this race with ease, possible age is finally just catching up with him, although this was only 3 weeks on from a fall as well and it's too soon to be coming to absolute conclusions for all that he clearly has something to prove all of a sudden; chased leaders, slow fifth, off the bridle circuit out, second when mistake 5 out, left behind by winner before next, also lost second but plugged on and regained that position on the run-in; he was tried in cheekpieces once before and, given there was a slight indolence to this performance, maybe headgear is worth another go.

OUTLANDER (IRE) is capable of top-class form on his day but consistency, or lack of it, is an issue and this added to his up-and-down profile, not in the same form as at Down Royal, the cheekpieces perhaps not having the same effect a second time; chased leader, lost second fourteenth, mistake next, struggling badly soon after and looked rather awkward, took third near the finish but only from a very tired rival.

TEA FOR TWO shaped better than the distance beaten suggests, looking second best most of the way and seeming to just find this trip on heavy ground too much of a test; in touch, hit seventh, shaken up between 5 out and 4 out, chased leader before 3 out, tied up after last, lost 2 places on the run-in and finished very tired.

TRAFFIC FLUIDE (FR) faced a stiff task purely on ratings and isn't proven on such testing ground or over this trip, either; held up, not always fluent, struggling thirteenth.

SHANTOU FLYER (IRE) failed to come on for a recent run, seeming amiss; in rear, struggling when blundered thirteenth, pulled up soon after.