Angels Breath cut for JLT at Cheltenham following easy chase debut success

Angels Breath made an impressive start to his chasing career when running out an easy winner of the 2m3f novice chase at Ascot.

A Grade 2 winner over hurdles, the five-year-old jumped nicely overall apart from a small error down the back to defeat the useful First Flow by a comfortable eight lengths.

Trainer Nicky Henderson said: "He was slick wasn’t he? He’s not the biggest.

"The funny thing is he gave us all the impression last year he wanted good ground and I saw Pat Doyle in the summer and he told me, but I said that’s all very well but I promise you he wants soft ground! Nico said he couldn’t believe it the way he went down in soft ground. We don’t really do soft at home but he absolutely loves it.

"It was a good proper gallop – Birchdale couldn’t go with them. I didn’t think they’d outpace Birchdale like that but they’ve gone a right solid pace considering the ground and Angels Breath should come on a fair bit for it. He was very good with his jumping."

He added: "The one lovely thing about that race is two miles three furlongs around here, you’re jumping six fences all uphill. They’re lovely fences to start over for a novice. He was confident all the way."

Stablemate Birchdale, who won two of his three starts over hurdles, never looked comfortable and finished a well-beaten third ahead of The Mighty Don.

On what promises to be a huge weekend for Henderson, Angels Breath was cut to 8-1 (from 20) with Paddy Power for the JLT Novices' Chase.

This race report is being updated and more news will follow shortly