CHELTENHAM:DAVID PIPE'S great grey hope Grands Crus gave every impression he could be as capable over fences as he was over hurdles with an almost flawless debut in a novices' chase at Cheltenham yesterday.

The normally reserved Pipe talks in rare terms about Grands Crus, whose only defeats last season came to the incredible Big Buck’s at the Cheltenham and Aintree festivals, and the trainer looked edgy in the preliminaries.

One minor fault for an over-exuberant leap at the top of the hill aside, the 6 to 4 favourite was operating at another level to some very smart horses like Champion Court and Zaynar and eventually finished 10 lengths clear.

It was only a pity his major market rival Cue Card unseated Joe Tizzard at the 11th fence of a race which has been won by such luminaries as Denman, Imperial Commander and Time For Rupert, or Grands Crus might have been given more of a test.

“Horses like this don’t come around too often, so the main feeling was relief,” Pipe said.

“If he’s nearly as good over fences as he was over hurdles, we’re in for a lot of fun.”

Asked about a Gold Cup entry, Pipe said: “I’m not going to say no, but he has a long way to go before that.”

Jockey Tom Scudamore added: “I know he made a mistake at the ditch, but any novice can do that. Other than that he was foot perfect.”