D’AIR FORCE

Buveur batters rising stars

BUVEUR D’AIR silenced the doubters with a brilliant win in the Fighting Fifth Hurdle at Newcastle.

He put younger rivals Samcro and Summerville Boy to the sword in a fantastic renewal of the famous old race.

It was a treat for northern jumping fans to see the dual champion hurdler clash with the great hope of Ireland in Samcro and Summerville Boy, winner of the Supreme Novices at Cheltenham in March.

But Nicky Henderson’s seven-year-old handed out an eight-length beating to Samcro, who was backed into 6-5 favourite. He took his unbeaten run to 11, dating back to April 2016 and including the last two Champion Hurdles. Summerville Boy was disappointing and finished fourth of the five runners.

Henderson was a nervous onlooker from Newbury, from where he said: “I think it was relief more than anything. After the bloody nose with Might Bite (Betfair Chase) last Saturday, I was prepared for a second one.

“That was an incredible performance. He doesn’t make mistakes, then he makes one at the last, but he picked up.

“There is so much more improvement in him. I thought it was very smooth and slick. He looked like a true champion. He is what he is – a two-time Champion Hurdle winner.

“Some people haven’t rated him as a dual Champion Hurdle winner – I think today those he has beaten are two good horses.”

Winning jockey Barry Geraghty said: “Any horse who wins two Champion Hurdles deserves respect and he’s winning everywhere he goes. He is top class, a pleasure to ride.”

Samcro’s trainer Gordon Elliott said: “The best won. No matter what tactics we tried, that would have been the result.

“I’m still going to train him for the Champion Hurdle – we can’t back down now.”