Barton beaten on chase debut Barton suffered a surprise defeat on his eagerly-awaited chasing debut at Wetherby today. Big things are expected over fences from the eight-year-old, who won nine races and nearly Stg#200,000 in prize money as a hurdler, and he was sent off 8-13 favourite for the Betfair.com Novices` Chase.But no sooner had he eased his way to the front at the third-last fence under Tony Dobbin than he was pressed by fellow chasing debutant October Mist, who took the lead before the last and went on to score by a length and a quarter.But Barton`s trainer Tim Easterby was far from downcast at the defeat.'I am very, very happy,' he said. 'Obviously I would be happier if he had won but you never know what is going to happen first time over fences. I said to Tony going out it wasn`t the end of the world - as long as he jumped round I would be delighted.'He was the first horse beaten but he jumped super when he wanted him to. The winner is a very good horse but we will be back - possibly in a two-and-a-half-mile race at Newcastle.'
