Daryl Jacob knew what he had to do - but Bristol didn't have it in him

Haydock in November is often where you'll find heavy ground and a gruelling race. Throw in a flat track and this is why Bristol De Mai has tended to excel, with his strong galloping and jumping pummelling his opponents into the ground.

The popular grey was going for a fourth win in the Betfair Chase on Saturday and, even with the presence of last year's winner and Cheltenham Gold Cup hero A Plus Tard in the field, he held the key to the race from a tactical perspective.

On ground merely soft, Daryl Jacob would have been alert to the fact that his opponents might not have the normal difficulty of laying up with his strong racing style. For that reason, he needed the horse to give him every bit of help at his fences to keep them stretched, but unfortunately on this occasion Bristol De Mai didn't quite have it in him.