BRISTOL De Mai edged out his stablemate Blaklion in an eventful race for the Grade 2 bet365 Charlie Hall Chase at Wetherby.

Headline horses Coneygree and Cue Card did not complete the course as two Nigel Twiston-Davies inmates dominated proceedings.

The race changed when Coneygree was pulled-up by Nico de Boinville before the 10th fence after making the early running.

Blaklion and Bristol De Mai were soon to the fore as the field set off on their second circuit.

There was all to play for when Cue Card fell five fences from home when still in contention after Daryl Jacob had sent Bristol De Mai to the front following seven out.

Blaklion put in a strong challenge, but Bristol De Mai (6/1) was not for passing and crossed the line half a length to the good. Definitly Red was another 23 lengths back in third place.

Jacob said: "He's a tough horse and he was very, very fresh - he just wanted to get on with it. It wasn't the best of rides from me but he won anyway."

Naunton handler Twiston-Davies, who was winning the Charlie Hall for a record fifth time, said: "Bristol De Mai doesn't turn seven for a few weeks so he should be coming into his own this season, which is amazing given what he has already achieved.

"It will be the Betfair (Chase, Haydock) next for him. He should get his soft ground and he likes it there. He was always travelling and I was just very happy with him.

"Blaklion pleased me, too. He was getting 6lb so the handicapper shouldn't be putting him up.That should leave him spot-on for the Becher Chase (Aintree)."

Jacob received a two-day whip ban (November 18-19) for not giving his mount time to respond. The dates coincide with Cheltenham's BetVictor Gold Cup meeting but he can ask to serve the ban on other days.

Connections of Coneygree were left dejected by the injury-plagued chaser's latest setback.

Assistant trainer Sara Bradstock said: "He simply frightened himself at the ditch. He doesn't do that normally and after that Nico said he was just scared.

"He pulled him up because he simply wasn't jumping like he normally does and he wasn't going to win. He is the best jumper in the world normally so something wasn't right.

"Thankfully he seems fine, he's got a little cut but nothing serious. Nico said the sun was very bright and it might be that he didn't see the fence.

"We'll go back to the drawing board now and try and get schooling him on the grass. We've only been able to do it on the all-weather up to now."

Colin Tizzard reported Cue Card to be none the worse for his fall. He said: "He's okay, that's the main thing, and so is Paddy (Brennan). He moved upsides just as the real race was starting and he just got it all wrong, which he has done in the past."

Brennan added: "He couldn't see the fence. He just took his eye off it and at this level you can't do that. The further he went the better he travelled but early on he wasn't enjoying the ground so I rushed him up and then got there a bit sooner than I wanted."

STYLISH

Colin's Sister beat the boys with a stylish display in the Grade 2 bet365 Hurdle.

Fergal O'Brien's mare was a prolific winner last season but came up short when upped to Grade 1 company in Ireland on her final start.

Reappearing in the race registered as the West Yorkshire Hurdle, she was in receipt of plenty of weight from her rivals but still faced a tough task at the ratings.

However, on the final bend Paddy Brennan was struggling to hold her so well was she travelling and while an untidy leap at the last lessened the winning margin, she still beat Wholestone by two lengths.

Lil Rockerfeller, second in the Stayers' Hurdle last term, filled third, just like 12 months ago.

"It's such a shame her owner/breeder Caroline Beresford-Wylie can't be here but she broke her arm a few day ago," said O'Brien of his 10/1 winner.

"Thankfully she let me plough on with the plan and we were very glad it rained as it helps slow the others down a bit. We didn't come to make up the numbers but I thought 10/1 summed up her chance, she had each-way claims.

"We've always thought three miles would be the making of her and she loved the ground and was getting weight.

"We'll have to see what's next, she's had a hard race there, before this we were thinking of going back against mares at either Kempton or Cheltenham.

"We didn't come here for a prep but I honestly thought today would put her spot-on for one of those. This has blown us all away."

Neil King said of Lil Rockerfeller: "He's run his race. He's a lazy, stuffy horse and that will sharpen him up a bit. He travelled and jumped well and I thought he might pull away at one stage but he's blown up.

"We could go to Newbury for the Long Distance Hurdle but we went to Ascot for the Coral Hurdle last year and might do again."