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Connections of Bristol De Mai have revealed that Bristol De Mai will be heading into handicap company after a couple of disappointing runs.
There are no throughts of retirement for the popular 10-year-old and he will be kept in training. But a handicap tilt is likely for N A Twiston-Davies' gelding.
The chaser failed in his bid to win the Betfair Chase for a fourth time at Haydock Park last weekend. The son of Saddler Maker disappointed, finishing fourth of five, beaten 21 lengths to Dan Skelton's Protektorat on soft ground.
Before that, Bristol De Mai, who has won 10 of his 34 chase starts, was pulled up in the Betfair Bowl at Aintree in April.
He came out of the Haydock race in good shape, but the grey who won the Grand National Trial at Haydock in February, tired four out and finished behind Frodon, Eldorado Allen and the winner.
However, Anthony Bromley, racing manager to owners Simon Munir and Isaac Souede, feels a drop in class might now be in order.
Bromley said: "He is absolutely fine after the race. Basically, he couldn't get them out of their comfort zone.
"The ground was soft and it was safe, but he probably needs it to be near unraceable to get the others out of their comfort zone, so he couldn't really stretch them
"It was a creditable run, but you'd have liked to have seen him finish off a bit better.
"I think we will have to drop a level and into handicaps. The handicapper has dropped him 4lb to 154. He will still be top-weight in a handicap, but we might run him in a handicap and if he is ready to run over Christmas, we might look at something.
"Otherwise, we will wait for Haydock in January or February and see where we are there.
"I think he has to drop a level, as a level-weights race sees him against younger legs and he is finding that tough.
"But it showed he still has got his zest and there is no talk of retirement yet.
"He is a fan favourite and rightly so. We will keep going this season as he has taken this in his stride. We are mindful of that if he doesn't show that zest, we would (retire him). But he is showing it at home and in the race."
