JUMPS racing in Britain was fairly low-key in the first week of February, with Bristol De Mai making the most of having just three rivals in the Scilly Isles Novices’ Chase at Sandown.

The five-year-old ran a 147 timefigure once more in dismissing As De Mee (144 timefigure) and Tea For Two (143 timefigure) and continues to pay a compliment to the smart Ar Mad, who beat him and As De Mee easily at this course in December.

The attempt to restore the reputation of Peace And Co in a listed hurdle earlier on the Sandown card came unstuck when last year’s Triumph Hurdle winner could finish only a soft third of four to Connetable.

The winner is a four-year-old, and he is now prominent in the betting for this year’s juvenile championship, but he needs to do more to convince on the clock.

There was little between his time and that of Akavit in the opener once weights carried are allowed for, and neither race was truly-run. Timefigures of just 116 for Connetable and 117 for Akavit tell their own story.

BLAKLION

Blaklion franked the form of the Dipper Novices’ Chase at Cheltenham – in which he had finished a clear second to Seeyouatmidnight – by landing the Towton Novices’ Chase at Wetherby emphatically from Definitly Red and Native River, though the longer trip, heavy going and strong pace on this occasion might well have helped.

This effort from Blaklion is worth a 148 timefigure again, and it is not difficult to see him getting involved in the finish of the RSA Chase at the Cheltenham Festival if stamina is at a high premium.

No More Heroes leads the way for that race, but his 151 peak timefigure does not put him out of reach.