Buveur D'Air, near side, beats Petit Mouchoir© Photo Healy Racing
Willie Mullins had to settle for second and third as Buveur D'Air showed his resolve for a battle when posting a tenacious success in the Imagine Cruising First In The Frame Top Novices' Hurdle at Aintree.
After finishing third in the Supreme Novices' Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival, the Nicky Henderson-trained gelding went two places better in the Grade One event on Merseyside.
Held up early on in close proximity to Mullins' favourite Limini the 11-4 shot travelled smoothly into the extended two-mile contest under Noel Fehily before going after leader Petit Mouchoir after two out.
With little to separate the pair over the last, it was only inside the final 100 yards that the five-year-old forged ahead before defeating Mullins' supposed third string by a neck.
Mullins earned more valuable prize-money to aid his pursuit of the British trainers' title, and said: "I was delighted with Petit Mouchoir. It looks like he'll make a good chaser for next year.
"Limini ran too free, but it was still a good run coming on the back of Cheltenham.
"Bleu Et Rouge (fifth) was too lit up and jumped too deliberate. Probably another half-mile might suit him better, but they all ran well.
"We'll see how they are as far as Punchestown goes. There is a mares' novice race, I think, at Punchestown. Limini might go for that."
Fehily said of the winner: "It worked out well. I didn't intend to be as far back as I was, but it's just where I ended up when the tapes went back. We went a good, strong gallop. He's just a very good horse and I love him to bits. He's as good a jumper of a hurdle as I've ever sat on."
Henderson said: "We've always wondered whether this fellow needed to go up to two and a half (miles) and that was the big question about today.
"It was either take on Yorkhill (over two and a half) or Limini. We've stuck to two and we've got away with it.
"Noel has given him a lovely ride because he can be quite keen still - he races like a two-miler, but perhaps he's going to get the two and a half.
"He's travelled well and he's done everything right. He took his time to get past him (Petit Mouchoir), but I think he stays well."
