'He jumps as well as any horse I’ve ridden' - Bravemansgame excels at Haydock

Bravemansgame maintained his unbeaten record over fences with a straightforward and impressive success in the 2m5½f graduation chase at Haydock on Saturday.

The John Dance and Bryan Drew-owned six-year-old, who finished third to Bob Olinger in last season's Ballymore Novices' Hurdle, jumped superbly on the way to a ready two-and-three-quarter-length win under Harry Cobden.

Betfair cut Bravemansgame to 5-1 (from 7) for the Festival Novices' Chase over 3m and 8-1 (from 10) for the Marsh over 2m4f at the Cheltenham Festival in March.

Cobden said: “That was unbelievable and he jumps as well as any horse I’ve ridden. He’s a pleasure to ride and it was very enjoyable.

“He’s very good over his fences, he can go long and short and he’s very easy to ride. He’s the ultimate professional.”

The victory took the record of Paul Nicholls in the race to eight wins in the last 11 years, with Bravemansgame following in the footsteps of Clan Des Obeaux and Politologue among others.

Nicholls said: "I was thrilled with that and he's progressing nicely. He jumped fantastically well and he's hardly had a race. He's obviously very good.

"He has so much scope that chasing was always going to be his game. He'll go for the Kauto Star next at Kempton on Boxing Day, it's the obvious race to go for."

Furius De Ciergues hits Betfair low but denied victory at Haydock

Furius De Ciergues joined Betfair's dreaded 1.01 Club when suffering a shock last-gasp defeat to Jersey Bean in a slow-motion finish to the 3m4½f handicap chase at Haydock.

The Oliver Greenall-trained chaser asserted around three lengths clear after jumping the last and looked the most likely winner approaching the final half furlong.

However, it was suddenly all change, with the Oliver Sherwood-trained Jersey Bean building significant momentum in the middle of the track.

Members can watch the replay here

With ten strides to go, it looked like Furius De Ciergus would hold on, but Jersey Bean grasped victory from defeat to lead just two strides from the line under an all-action ride by Johnny Burke.

Furius De Ciergues was matched at 1.01 for £13,261 on the Betfair Exchange, with Jersey Bean hitting an in-running high of 160 on the way to his half-length success.

Burke said: "It was a good performance, especially with that weight. He answered every call and when he got into a battle, he really rallied. He's a good honest horse and his attitude was top-class."

How it happened

Furius De Ciergues (right) jumps the final fence narrowly in front of Jersey BeanCredit: RacingTV

Furius De Ciergues (right) steadily asserts a couple of lengths clear as they make their way up the run-inCredit: RacingTV

Jersey Bean (near) starts to rally in the centre of the trackCredit: RacingTV

It's neck and neck between the two in the closing stagesCredit: Racing TV

Jersey Bean (near) leads near the line to land the 3m4½f handicap chaseCredit: Racing TV

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