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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Sport
Melissa Jones

Bristol De Mai headlines new Lingfield £1 million jumps meeting before Cheltenham 2022

Three-time Betfair Chase hero Bristol De Mai headlines the cast for a new £1 million jumps meeting.

With less than two months until the 2022 Cheltenham Festival, equine stars will be on show at Lingfield this week.

Nigel Twiston-Davies' grey, the winner of more than £800,000 in prize money, is entered in the Fleur De Lys Chase.

It is the £150,000 highlight on Sunday's card, the third and final day of the fixture.

Bristol De Mai attempted a fourth success in the first Grade 1 chase of the season at Haydock, but was not in contention as A Plus Tard galloped clear.

Anthony Bromley, racing manager to Bristol De Mai's owners Simon Munir and Isaac Souede, believes the new challenge will see the stayer in a much better light.

“Daryl [Jacob, his usual jockey] did not think dropping back to two miles and six furlongs on a track like Lingfield would be too much of an inconvenience and obviously the softer or heavy ground will suit him much better," Bromley said.

Lingfield Park Racecourse hosts a valuable new fixture this week (PA)

“He has a 6lb penalty to carry for last season’s Betfair Chase win, but I think he goes there with a great chance. Sparky [Bevis], who rides him at home, says he is full of zest and in as good a form as he has been for ages.

“Bristol is an awesome sight on a going day in the right conditions. He just grinds his rivals into submission and let’s hope he can wind the clock back and do it again."

Potential rivals for the Gloucestershire-trained star include Dashel Drasher, Waiting Patiently and Fakir D’Oudairies.

The latter is one of seven Irish entries on the day, which include Gordon Elliott's Saint Felicien.

He could run in the £100,000 Weatherbys Cheltenham Festival Betting Guide Hurdle, up against Brewin’upastorm, who fell when holding every chance at Cheltenham on New Year’s Day and recent wide-margin Punchestown scorer Darver Star.

The latter's trainer Gavin Cromwell has also entered Wexford bumper winner Fameaftertheglory in the £30,000 Winter Million Novices' Hurdle.

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