Tag Archive for: Bristol De Mai

Bristol De Mai heading for honourable retirement

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Time has been called on the glittering career of hugely-popular chaser Bristol De Mai following his run at Haydock on Saturday.

Owned by Simon Munir and Isaac Souede, the Nigel Twiston-Davies-trained grey was victorious six times at his beloved Merseyside venue, including a hat-trick of victories in the Betfair Chase between 2017 and 2020.

Bristol De Mai also won the 2016 Altcar Novices’ Chase, the 2017 Peter Marsh Chase and last year’s Grand National Trial at Haydock, but finished well beaten when bidding for back-to-back wins in the latter contest at the weekend.

Connections now feel the time has come to give him an honourable retirement.

Munir wrote on Twitter: “Team Double Green are announcing the retirement of Bristol De Mai.

“It has been a privilege to own him. Bristol has been a legend and retires 100% sound & happy. Our thanks to Nigel, Sparky (Richard Bevis), Daryl (Jacob) & all at Grange Farm.

“It has been a wonderful journey that he has taken us all on!”

It is nine years since Bristol De Mai was bought out of Guillaume Macaire’s yard in the France and he made an immediate impact by providing Munir and Souede with their first Grade One success in the 2014 Finale Juvenile Hurdle at Chepstow.

In all he won 12 times, with his big-race haul also including the 2016 Scilly Isles Novices’ Chase at Sandown and the 2017 Charlie Hall Chase at Wetherby.

The 12-year-old amassed over £900,000 in prize-money and while his owners are enjoying an excellent season, with Blue Lord and El Fabiolo both winning Grade Ones and heading to next month’s Cheltenham Festival as leading contenders, Bristol De Mai will undoubtedly always have a special place in their hearts.

Bristol De Mai on the gallops
Bristol De Mai on the gallops (Andrew Matthews/PA)

The aforementioned Jacob was a masterful partner of Bristol De Mai, being in the saddle for nine of his 12 victories – including the three Betfair Chases.

He told sportinglife.com: “What a legend of a horse Bristol has been and he’s been a pleasure to ride.

“I’ve enjoyed so many good days on him and some special days with my family too – the kids have grown to love him over the years so he’ll always be remembered fondly.

“His best performance was probably his second Betfair Chase, when he got the better of Native River, Thistlecrack, Clan Des Obeaux and Might Bite.

“The third Betfair gave me a huge amount of pleasure, but in terms of actual performance it was that second win, beating Gold Cup winners.”

Bristol De Mai raring to go for weekend action, weather permitting

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Connections of ever-popular Bristol De Mai are hoping that Haydock’s Saturday card gets the green light but will switch to Lingfield if the meeting falls to the weather.

The Nigel Twiston-Davies-trained 12-year-old, who has won 10 of his 34 chase starts and finished second on another 10 occasions, relishes Haydock, especially when the ground is deep.

The consistent grey was runner-up in the Grand National Trial at the Merseyside track in February last year and was awarded the race six months later following The Galloping Bear’s disqualification.

His enthusiasm was evident on his return, as he showed up well for a long way in the Betfair Chase before tiring from four out.

Now he drops into handicap company for the Peter Marsh Chase, his first preference over Lingfield’s Fleur De Lys Chase on Sunday.

Anthony Bromley, racing manager to owners Simon Munir and Isaac Souede, said: “Basically we were planning to run him this weekend in either of the two races and he is declared for both.

“We will run in the first one that’s actually on and I’m pretty doubtful that either will be.

“If that is the case, we will wait for the Grand National Trial at Haydock at the next meeting for him, which he ran well in last year.

“With the inspection moved to 8am at Haydock, we are planning to be there. If that’s off, then we will look at Lingfield and we will redirect there.

“He has been a wonderful servant to the owners. He won a Grade One Hurdle as a three-year-old at Chepstow on his first run for the owners nine years ago and he’s still got the spark in him. They are they are happy with him at home.”

Though a precautionary inspection is planned for 8am, Sandy Thomson, who trains Empire Steel, one of six in the line-up, hopes a decision is made early, as he will be setting off at 6.30am from Berwickshire.

Empire Steel was pulled up behind Royale Pagaille in the race last year but bounced back to score at Kelso, and ran well for a long way when seventh to Brave Seasca at Aintree on his return in December.

“I was delighted with his run at Aintree,” said Thomson. “He didn’t run well in the race last year but he ran well at Haydock before that, so we are hoping for a big run.

“He has won on heavy, but I don’t think any horse will like the ground it is going to be, but for the money it is not the most competitive race.”

Stage Star had a confidence-boosting outing at Plumpton last time
Stage Star had a confidence-boosting outing at Plumpton last time (Mike Egerton/PA)

Elsewhere on the card, the Paul Nicholls-trained Stage Star looks to take another progressive step when he lines up against Grand Voyage and Lac De Constance in the Grade Two Patrick Coyne Memorial Altcar Novices’ Chase.

Winner of the Challow Hurdle at Newbury last season, he opened his chasing account when scoring at Warwick and put behind him a sub-par effort next time when winning as he liked in a minor Plumpton event.

“He is a smart young chaser and bounced back to form in style last time at Plumpton where his jumping was brilliant” Nicholls reported on his Betfair blog.

“I think you can put a line through his previous defeat at Newbury where he was hanging quite badly left in the closing stages.

“He wasn’t quite right that day but looked in top order at Plumpton and continues to please at home.”

Chasing Fire could be chasing bigger prizes shortly as he step up into Grade Two company for the first time in the Sky Bet Supreme Trail Rossington Main Novices’ Hurdle.

Olly Murphy says he would not swap Chasing Fire
Olly Murphy says he would not swap Chasing Fire (David Davies/PA)

Having won his bumper, he is unbeaten in two starts over hurdles, both victories coming at Market Rasen.

“We are taking a step up in class and that will hopefully tell us where we are moving forward,” said Murphy.

“We were delighted with his run last time and while it looks a decent race – I know Dan (Skelton) likes his horse (Pembroke) and Paul’s (Nicholls) horse (Toothless) won well at Fakenham last time – I wouldn’t swap my fellow for anything.

“If he comes out of this well, we will likely head for the Supreme, but this will tell us where we are with him.”

Nicholls saddles the ex-French Toothless in the seven-strong line-up, the son of Authorized having produced a facile success on his British debut.

“He made an eyecatching debut for us by winning a maiden hurdle at Fakenham by 35 lengths on New Year’s Day and Bryony Frost was so enthusiastic about him afterwards,” added Nicholls.

“His form in three starts in France last spring was ordinary so we gave him plenty of time and felt he had improved massively in his home work before Fakenham.

“This is a big step up in grade for Toothless who I’d say is a smart horse. He is certainly bred in the purple and is a half-brother to the classy dual-purpose horse Sceau Royal.”