HAYDOCK PARK 15:00

All 5 ran. Fences: 19.

Time: 7m 1.8s Closing Sectional: (2.9f): 45.9s (104.2%)

Overrounds: Industry SP 107%, Betfair SP 101.2%

A very familiar feel to this year's Betfair Chase, from the size of the field, state of the ground and, what's more, the identity of the winner, Bristol de Mai landing the prize for a third time in trademark style, conditions so bad by this stage that he clocked a time not only slower than his winning one in 2018 but also that recorded by Snow Leopardess in the earlier handicap at the trip.

BRISTOL DE MAI (FR) narrowed the gap to Kauto Star's record of 4 Betfair Chases with an effort so similar to his back-to-back wins in 2017 and 2018, particularly the former, coping far better with conditions - and jumping better - than one of his main rivals and essentially outstaying the other, no ground testing enough for Bristol de Mai around his second home, his defeat at the hands of Lostintranslation 12 months ago his only reverse from 6 visits to Haydock; soon in front, he'd seen off pace-rival Bellshill over a circuit out and began to turn the screw on the home turn, quickly having the favourite floundering before Clan des Obeaux loomed up after 3 out, immediately driven (Jacob glanced over the wrong shoulder briefly) but responding in customary style, taking the measure of that final threat between the last 2, albeit maintaining rather than extending his advantage late on; his 2 King George attempts haven't gone nearly so well and, not even entered this year, there's merit in the suggestion a trip or 2 to Ireland may prove more productive than banging his head against the brick walls of Kempton and, even, the Cheltenham Gold Cup.

CLAN DES OBEAUX (FR) couldn't crown the positives with a third Grade 1 success but has clearly come back as good as ever judging by this encouraging return from 8 months off, not failing to handle the test but certainly blunted by it, likely to have gone away from Bristol de Mai after cruising alongside 3 out had this been around Kempton in a King George, as it was unable to get past under pressure from the next and held by the last, to his credit not lying down; the concern, as regards a potential King George hat-trick, has to be whether this leaves a mark, with neither lead-up race to his preceding 2 successes half as gruelling as this one.

LOSTINTRANSLATION (IRE) had lowered Bristol de Mai's colours in this last year but flopped bidding to repeat the dose on far more testing ground this time around, no run behind him as in 2019 but going down as a flop all the same, even such bottomless ground not an entirely satisfactory excuse, his King George capitulation (breathing problem) still fresh in the mind; patiently ridden, he'd moved into a clear third in the back straight despite the odd untidy jump but came off the bridle approaching the straight and failed to respond, done with 4 out and finishing tired, albeit looked after by Power; it would require some bounce-back to have him spot on for another crack at Kempton after this.

KEEPER HILL (IRE) was all the more out of his depth than in the Charlie Hall, settled in last and left behind gradually in the back straight.

BELLSHILL (IRE) was derailed by a blunder on his first outing since leaving W. P. Mullins after 9 months off, possibly injuring himself, though Yorkhill had hardly fired on the back of the same switch; pressed leader, jumped on briefly fifth, bad mistake tenth, lost place back straight, beaten 5 out.