BUVEUR D'Air teed up a possible pre-Cheltenham clash with Faugheen as he made the perfect return to action in easily landing the odds in the Grade 1 Unibet Fighting Fifth Hurdle at Newcastle.

Last season's Champion Hurdle hero went off the 1/6 favourite and Nicky Henderson's six-year-old promptly outclassed his four rivals.

Katgary and Mirsaale shared the early running, before Buveur D'Air jumped into the lead at the third-last flight and cantered to victory under a motionless Barry Geraghty.

Irving, two-time winner of the extended two-mile contest, was flattered by being only three and a half lengths behind in second place.

A delighted Henderson watched on from Newbury, where he said: "It was good and he did what he had to do. Anything else would have probably been disappointing. Thank goodness it is over and done with and hopefully it's onwards and upwards now.

"He had to do what he did to keep everyone happy. Under the circumstances it was great. He was fat the other day here at Newbury. I would have thought the Christmas Hurdle (at Kempton) will now be the plan."

Geraghty said: "He was very good. His jumping is just rapid.

"If you look over the years, the real Champion Hurdlers like Istabraq, Hurricane Fly, Hardy Eustace - they just bend their knees and take off. They gain ground and fill up their lungs because it's so natural and easy for them.

"I rode him work 10 days ago at Newbury and he worked nicely. He worked on Sunday morning and Nicky was buzzing about him and he was very happy with his weight, which was a good indication.

"He was the same weight going to Aintree at the end of last season. He holds his condition well through the season and you were fairly sure he was fairly close to being ready. He was in great shape and it was a good performance."

The Willie Mullins-trained Faugheen, the 2015 two-mile king at Cheltenham, impressed at Punchestown recently on his comeback from injury and has Kempton and Leopardstown as his options at Christmas.

Geraghty added: "Faugheen looked really good at Punchestown, but this horse feels more physical this year than last year. I relish the challenge. He's only six going on seven so really he should still be getting better.

"It felt like he is, he's physically stronger this year, he feels sharper, too.

"Faugheen is obviously very good, too, but I'd be looking forward to it (meeting at Kempton), we'd relish the challenge."

Frank Berry, racing manager to owner JP McManus, said: "That was very easy to watch. He jumped great and Barry said he felt fantastic.

"He handles that ground really well which is unusual for a Champion Hurdler, but he goes through it great.

"To say he's won two over fences, he's such a good hurdler, so quick.

"It will probably be Kempton next, where else is there to go? I know Faugheen might come, as he has done in the past, but there are other options in Ireland for him without having to travel before Cheltenham. We'll have to see how everything is."

Act Of Valour earned quotes of 33/1 for the Triumph Hurdle when making a winning debut over timber in the Jigsaw Sports Branding "Introductory" Juvenile Hurdle at Newcastle.

Now with Paul Nicholls, he was a smart horse on the level in Ireland for Michael O'Callaghan, earning a rating of 97 on the flat, and showed a terrific attitude for a newcomer.

Up against two promising rivals in Look My Way and Embole, the 11/8 chance jumped immaculately throughout for Sean Bowen, winning by two lengths.

Act Of Valour runs in the colours of Max McNeil, who has had good juveniles like Walkon and Grumeti in the past. This is the first horse the owner has had with Nicholls.

"I was more nervous about him running than anything else today, because I think he is really nice," said Nicholls, who was at Newbury.

"He jumped well at home and has done well today. He didn't like the ground, according to Sean, but he looks a really nice juvenile.

"I don't know what we will do now. Today was his first start over hurdles, but he jumped well. We might look at Doncaster for the Grade 2 there in a fortnight (Summit Juvenile), but we will talk to Max and see what he says. Nothing is set in stone.

"It's nice to have a first winner for the McNeil family, as they are great supporters of jumping and they have some really nice horses with other trainers, so it is nice to have a winner for them."

Sean Bowen performed heroics to get Beware The Bear home in front in the Listed At The Races Rehearsal Chase.

The saddle had slipped over the horse's quarters and most jockeys would have taken evasive action and pulled the horse up.

Bowen persevered, but even with half a mile to go it did not look as if he would be involved in the finish.

Yala Enki and Boric led into the straight with Bishops Road keeping them in their sights. At the time, Beware The Bear looked set to complete in his own time and Jamie Moore appeared confident on Bishops Road.

He kicked Kerry Lee's stayer into the lead and everything seemed to have gone to plan, only for Beware The Bear to sprout wings.

The Nicky Henderson-trained seven-year-old was one of the favourites for the four-miler at Cheltenham last year and stamina is definitely one of his strong suits.

Despite Bowen being much further back than the norm, Beware The Bear flew the last two fences and the 11/4 favourite powered clear to win by two and a quarter lengths.

Bowen said: "I was struggling to stay on towards the end with my saddle gone. I lost it down the back straight and it was going further and further back.

"All he did was stay and he's tough, the boss (Henderson) said that he was an out-and-out galloper and he was right. He jumped great in fairness to him and to be honest that has probably kept him in the race. All he does is gallop and jump."

TABLES TURNED

Coole Hall (11/4) turned the tables on Senor Lombardy from their last meeting to win the Weatherbys Racing Bank "The French Furze" Novices' Hurdle.

When the pair met at Kelso three weeks ago Keith Dalgleish's Senor Lombardy enjoyed the good ground and a 7lb pull at the weights. But on a much softer surface and at level weights Rose Dobbin's Coole Hall won by a length and a quarter for Craig Nicol.

"He's a lovely old-fashioned chaser in the making," said assistant trainer Tony Dobbin. "He ran two lovely races on good ground, but I always thought this was what he wanted.

"I've no idea where he'll go next, but the Haydocks and Carlisles will suit him."

Lake View Lad (5/1) has always promised to be a nice horse for Nick Alexander and his victory over three miles in the novice handicap chase could be a springboard to bigger things.

"I took a chance jumping straight up from two miles to three, but I always felt he'd stay," said Alexander. "He was a bit free early, which didn't help, but the first two were a long way clear.

"We had him in the Rehearsal Chase, too, but he'd only had three chases and hopefully we'll be back next year for that. The race at Haydock, the Tommy Whittle, over two-six, could be next if it's not too soon."

Plus Jamais (15/2) carried on from where he left off last season when landing the Equine Products UK Handicap Chase for Iain Jardine and Ross Chapman.

Winner of his last two outings last season, he held off the favourite Ronn The Conn by a length and three-quarters.

"He loves to run fresh and he stays almost three miles, so we knew he'd get the trip," said Jardine. "He jumps really well and has now won his last three. It was an excellent ride by Ross, who has a good head on his shoulders."