BUVEUR D’Air was brilliant in the Fighting Fifth Hurdle at Newcastle on Saturday. If there was ever a suspicion that J.P. McManus’ dual Champion Hurdle winner has not been getting the recognition that he has been due, that anomaly has now surely been addressed.

Racing for the first time since he won his second Champion Hurdle last March, there was a chance that the Nicky Henderson-trained gelding would be free and keen through the early stages of the race, especially behind the sedate pace that Jack Kennedy set on Samcro, but he wasn’t. Barry Geraghty got him beautifully settled from early just behind Samcro. You have to think that the rider was completely happy at every stage of the race.