Horse racing news Monday 12th February 2018

Nigel Twiston-Davies has ruled out the Gold Cup for Betway Bowl-bound Bristol De Mai. The grey is to be aimed at the Betway Bowl after being taken out of the Timico Cheltenham Gold Cup. Connections of the Nigel Twiston-Davies-trained seven-year-old have decided to opt for the Grade One chase at Aintree in April and scratched him from next month's blue riband. Bristol De Mai holds an entry in the Randox Health Grand National as well, but the Bowl looks the more likely objective.

"Everything is fine. We're going to go to Aintree. He's going for the Bowl, probably not the National," said Twiston-Davies. "He is 100 per cent. Blaklion is our main one in the National and he's in good form."

Bristol De Mai had looked a serious Gold Cup candidate when storming to victory in the Betfair Chase at Haydock in November but has since been well beaten in the King George VI Chase and the Cotswold Chase. He was available at odds of around 33-1 for the Gold Cup. 

Godolphin had two interesting runners entered for Monday evening at Wolverhampton but Al Mustashar hasn’t travelled from the yard of Saeed be Suroor and does not run. Charlie Appleby has sent Crown Walk for the 5.10 and the Dubawi filly was a good winner on debut over 7f at Chelmsford in December 2017 and looks one to keep on side. She is the 11th foal of Dunnes River making her a sister to French 7f winner Pirate's Cove and half-sister to 7 winners inc Cutlass Bay, Boscobel and Dover Castle. Unfortunately she is un-backable tonight at 4-11 but worth a watch as she could be a good’un in time.