Bristol De Mai to use Denman Chase at Newbury as Gold Cup 'springboard'

Bristol De Mai will put his Gold Cup credentials on the line in the Betfair Denman Chase on Saturday week.Nigel Twiston-Davies' grey, owned by Isaac Souede and Simon Munir, was catapulted into the reckoning for the blue riband when he waltzed clear in the Peter Marsh Chase at Haydock.Connections had been contemplating running him at Ascot over two miles and five furlongs, but Bristol De Mai is instead likely to test his mettle in a Gold Cup trial at Newbury.Anthony Bromley, racing manager for his owners, said: " There's been lots of talk since Haydock, but Isaac, Simon and myself were all at Nigel's on Thursday and the decision was made to go to the Denman."We hope to use that as a springboard into the Gold Cup."If we'd gone to Ascot it would have meant going back in trip, which we weren't keen to do, and Newbury also gives us an extra week to freshen him up for the Festival."Also, Thistlecrack was beaten on Saturday. Make no mistake, he is still the one everybody has to beat."