'He's an absolute gentleman' - Betfair Chase stalwart Bristol De Mai still loves jumping in new life at a racing yard

We all have our favourites on the track, but it's not always easy to follow what they get up to once their racing days are over. In a new Racing Post series, we catch up with Bristol De Mai . . .

Bristol De Mai had quite the love affair with the Betfair Chase. He ran in the race six times from 2017 and 2022, recording three spectacular victories.

Haydock was the five-time Grade 1 winner's happiest hunting ground and he landed the Betfair Chase in 2017, 2018 and 2020 under Daryl Jacob for trainer Nigel Twiston-Davies.

It was apt that his last win came in the track's Grand National Trial, after The Galloping Bear was disqualified. Now with Clare Lawes, wife of trainer Toby, the popular grey has adapted superbly to a life out of racing.

Lawes said: "I got him a few weeks after he retired. I was a bit apprehensive when I picked him up because he's very big and I'm not. When I first got on him I was like 'oh gosh, what's he going to be like?' but I got on and it was like he'd been in that arena his whole life.

"He's been so straightforward since, he's an absolute gentleman. He's very intelligent, he picks everything up very easily and he's been a dream to have.

"We've had lots of lessons with a local eventer. He's done some flatwork, which he doesn't love, but he would do literally anything you asked him to. He's so athletic and balanced. He absolutely loves his trail hunting, so we do as much of that as we can. He just loves jumping."

Still got it: Bristol De Mai and Clare Lawes negotiate a fence out at exercise

Bristol De Mai is a keen watcher of the Lawes string and helps educate the younger horses, while his owners Simon Munir and Isaac Souede are frequently sent images and updates of his new life.

"I try and send Simon and Isaac pictures of him," Lawes said. "He parades at racecourses every once in a while and at Cheltenham last year they came to see him in the paddock. Even though Daryl's not riding, he's coming to see him at Haydock on Saturday.

"He gets really excited and he's a real show-off for a camera. He grows about a foot and starts prancing around. He's very sensible and he doesn't do anything wrong, but he knows everyone is there to see him."

More Where Are They Nows:

'He's a bit of a local celebrity and loves life' - catching up with Paddy Power Gold Cup regular Splash Of Ginge 

'He's a king in the heart of Dartmoor' - at home with the hugely popular star and Badger Beer hero Frodon 

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