Buveur D'Air gets better of smart Cloudy Dream on chase debut

Buveur D'Air made a winning debut over fences in the Read Paddy Brennan At 32Red.com Novices' Chase at Haydock as he deployed a smart turn of foot after the final fence to clear away from the useful Cloudy Dream.

A Grade 1 winner over hurdles last season, and third to stablemate Altior in the Supreme Novices' Hurdle, Buveur D'Air faced three rivals, with racing at times taking place in thick fog.

The four-runner field was led by Chic Name, with Cloudy Dream travelling in front of Buveur D'Air, who was in receipt of 8lb from Malcolm Jefferson's charge, previously unbeaten in two starts over fences.

Race result and analysis

It was Cloudy Dream who got by Chic Name first but Aidan Coleman always looked confident and put the race to bed having jumped to the front at the last.

'A very nice racehorse'

"He enjoyed it," said Coleman. "He was low and accurate. I wouldn't say he was brave in the sense of taking off outside the wings, but he took me right into every fence. He's a very nice racehorse."

Malcolm Jefferson was not too downbeat after the defeat and also paid tribute to the winner.

"The winner is a nice horse and we've run a grand race," he said. "We'll mind him now, as he's a better horse on better ground. We'll freshen him up in January and then bring him back.

"I don't think he needs any further, a good gallop over 2m will suit him on better ground when he can quicken. He's a grand horse."

Betfair responded by trimming Buveur D'Air, who raced in the colours of JP McManus for the first time, into 6-1 (from 10) for the JLT Novices' Chase at the Cheltenham Festival.