Buveur heads Henderson trio in Aintree Hurdle as Mullins prepares big guns

Nicky Henderson is ready to counter a triple challenge from the formidable stable of Willie Mullins with three runners of his own in Thursday's Grade 1 Betway Aintree Hurdle, headed by dual Champion Hurdle winner Buveur D'Air.

Verdana Blue and Brain Power will line up alongside 2017 hero Buveur D'Air in a race looking increasingly likely to kick the three-day Randox Health Grand National meeting off with a clamorous bang.

Buveur D'Air crashed out when bidding for a historic third win in the Champion Hurdle last month but Henderson reports his confidence to be unscathed from that mishap and took only positives from a schooling session over the weekend.

Barry Geraghty: punches the air after winning last year's Champion Hurdle on the brilliant Buveur D'AirCredit: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos)

"Barry Geraghty came over and sat on Buveur D'Air on Saturday. He jumped big hurdles on him and he was great. His work has been super," said Henderson.

"The fall left no marks and he went out there and jumped the same as he always does."

Super slick, Buveur D'Air has never been one to waste time in the air at his hurdles and, despite his fall at Cheltenham, Henderson anticipates the same technique to be on show come Thursday.

"He'll go out there and do it exactly the same as he's always done it," said the trainer. "His schooling session was brilliant."

Asked what he thought of the calibre of opponents standing in Buveur D'Air's path, the trainer added: "I was expecting that sort of opposition – it's no surprise to me and we're going to run three.

"We're worried about what we're doing and not what everyone else is. Our job is to make sure all our mob get there in one piece."

Bookmakers make Buveur D'Air a general 11-10 favourite, with Champion Hurdle fifth Verdana Blue a best-priced 16-1 and Brain Power a 33-1 shot having been pulled up in the same race.

"They came out of Cheltenham fine and Verdana Blue and Brain Power are in good form," said Henderson, who also confirmed that his Thursday team will include impressive JCB Triumph Hurdle winner Pentland Hills and stablemate Adjali in the Doom Bar Anniversary 4-Y-O Juvenile Hurdle.

The million pound drop: Benie Des Dieux and Ruby Walsh fall at the last flight when leading the Mares' HurdleCredit: Patrick McCann

Mullins, also on the offensive, is hoping to run Champion Hurdle runner-up Melon, Stayers' Hurdle third Faugheen and exciting mare Benie Des Dieux, who fell at the last hurdle with the OLBG Mares' Hurdle at her mercy last month.

Of the trio, Benie Des Dieux is narrowly favoured in the market at 5-1, with Melon a top-price 6-1 and Faugheen at 8-1.

"All three are fit and well and ready to run," said Mullins. "All three could be on the ferry on Tuesday morning and, at the moment, they are all running. It's nicely timed between now and Punchestown.

"We can't say that Benie Des Dieux has had a hard season so she's able to run. An extra half-mile is what Melon looks like he wants and Faugheen will have no problem with the trip and the ground."

He added: "The only problem would be if the ground keeps drying up. That might be an issue for Benie, but the other two will be fine on the ground so they're good to go."

Faugheen lands the Champion Stayers Hurdle at Punchestown in AprilCredit: Alan Crowhurst (Getty Images)

If she gets the go-ahead, Benie Des Dieux will arrive at Aintree on the back of a desperately unlucky final-flight fall when looking set to score back-to-back festival wins.

Melon was second to Espoir D'Allen in the Champion, albeit beaten 15 lengths, while Faugheen was third to Paisley Park in the Stayers'.

While Gordon Elliott's Aintree army looks set to be bigger than ever, Mullins' squad is more select and the trainer added: "Cadmium will run in the Topham, along with Polidam, and I would say Aramon might turn up in the 2m½f novice hurdle on Friday [Betway Top Novices' Hurdle] but I won't have too many others and not many for the handicaps either."

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