Top Notch and Bristol De Mai to be kept apart Top Notch's options are being left open after his victory in the Christy 1965 Chase at Ascot on Saturday. The ultra-consistent six-year-old, trained by Nicky Henderson, holds an entry in the King George VI Chase at Kempton on Boxing Day but will not be asked to take on runaway Betfair Chase winner Bristol De Mai, who runs in the same ownership of Simon Munir and Isaac Souede. He will, though, be left in the Christmas showpiece for the time being. The other short-term target is the Betfred Peterborough Chase at Huntingdon, but that comes up pretty quickly on December 10. "He seems to have come out of the race well, but Nicky isn't committed yet so I don't know what will happen next," said Anthony Bromley, racing manager to the owners. "The owner Simon Munir said on Sunday he would be kept in the King George, but if Bristol De Mai was fine then he wouldn't take him on with his own horse, who is going for a £1million bonus. That's the owner's feeling on it. "There is a possibility of the Peterborough Chase, but it will only be 15 days from Saturday's race, so it is very much a trainer's call."
