Navajo Pass upsets Buveur D’Air at Haydock
Former champion has to settle for runner-up spot on first start in 14 months.
Navajo Pass inflicted a surprise defeat on the returning Buveur D’Air in Haydock’s The New One Unibet Hurdle. Donald McCain’s winner was sent off the 4-1 outsider of three to beat dual Champion Hurdle hero Buveur D’Air and Ballyandy – who took this Grade Two 12 months ago. But forceful tactics paid off as Navajo Pass led from the outset and kept enough in reserve to see off Buveur D’Air, who challenged after the last hurdle but could not reel in his rival and had to settle for a four-and-a-quarter length second. Sent off the 8-11 favourite, Nicky Henderson’s Buveur D’Air was having his first run in 14 months, since suffering an injury that required surgery when also beaten at short odds in the 2019 Fighting Fifth Hurdle at Newcastle. Bookmaker reaction to his comeback defeat saw his ante-post price for this year’s Champion Hurdle double from 10-1 to 20-1 with Betfair and Paddy Power.Follow us on Twitter racing365dotcom and like our Facebook page.
Latest
-
O’Brien so close to joining elite list as Porta Fortuna just denied
The 25-year-old won British Classics as a jockey and came within a whisker of first as a trainer.
-
Stay Alert powers home to claim Dahlia prize
Running Lion made early bid for home but had nothing left in the finish.
-
Marine Nationale may return on the Flat before jumping comeback
The seven-year-old was an absentee at the Cheltenham Festival.
-
Mystik Dan clings on for victory in Kentucky Derby thriller
Coolmore-owned Sierra Leone was just denied in second, with Forever Young third.