Brilliant Buveur D'Air takes next step on Champion Hurdle hat-trick trail

2.30 Kempton
Unibet Christmas Hurdle | Grade 1 | 2m | 4yo+ | ITV/RTV

Dual Champion Hurdle hero Buveur D’Air takes his next step towards a historic hat-trick bid in March in the second of three Christmas crackers at Kempton.

The JP McManus-owned seven-year-old returned to action with a staggeringly impressive victory over Samcro in the Fighting Fifth Hurdle at Newcastle last month and is long odds on to win back-to-back editions of this £130,000 top-level contest.

His sole defeat over hurdles came when third behind stablemate Altior in the Supreme in 2016, but seven Grade 1 victories among 11 consecutive wins later – including a short stint over fences - and Buveur D’Air is without doubt the shining star of the two-mile hurdling division.

Trainer Nicky Henderson said: "He’s been first class since Newcastle and we’ve had an uninterrupted preparation. He enjoyed Newcastle as much as I did.

"The most pleasing aspect was that suddenly everybody realised just what a good horse he is. He’d already won two Champion Hurdles but hadn’t quite received the recognition he deserved. I was at Newbury that day and he got a great reception at both places, so that was very nice.

"On that form he’s entitled to win, but it’s by no means a one-horse race. There’s always pressure on when you have a runner at such a short price in a Grade 1 race, but I’d rather have that pressure than not."

Verdana Blue (right): defeated If The Cap Fits (left) in the Elite Hurdle at Wincanton last monthCredit: Alan Crowhurst

Stablemate Verdana Blue may contest a rather different spring target but attempts to land some valuable Grade 1 black type.

The Crimbourne Stud-owned mare is being aimed at the Betway All-Weather Marathon at Lingfield on Good Friday but is a high-class hurdler, with a victory in the Elite Hurdle in November on her CV.

Henderson said: "She’s got a lot to do but has to have good ground and conditions at Kempton will be better than anywhere else for the next month.

"She’s got a good chance of placing in Grade 1 company and that’s very attractive with a mare.

"She ran very well on the all-weather at Kempton last time and we’re aiming her at Good Friday, but we couldn’t resist the temptation to run her here because of the prize-money on offer, decent ground and the possibility of black type."

Global Citizen: an impressive winner of the Ladbrokes Intermediate Hurdle at Newbury last timeCredit: Mark Cranham

Ben Pauling describes taking on Buveur D’Air as a “mammoth task” but feels that recent Newbury winner Global Citizen could not be in better form.

Global Citizen showcased the most endearing battling qualities when making all in the Gerry Feilden Hurdle at the start of the month and landed the Dovecote Novices’ Hurdle over course and distance last season.

Pauling said: "He couldn’t be any better going into this. He’s very well in himself and the good to soft ground and track should suit him.

"I’ve always liked him a lot and he’ll be very exciting over fences next season, but I thought he deserved another season over hurdles to see just how far he can go up the ladder.

"It’s a mammoth task taking on the best of the best in the division in Buveur D’Air, but it’s a good opportunity to give it a go. If we finish in the first three I’d be delighted."

Noel Fehily and If The Cap Fits in action at AscotCredit: Henry Browne

The Harry Fry-trained If The Cap Fits stayed on strongly to win the Grade 2 Ascot Hurdle last month and having won six of his eight races, he will have his supporters.

The field is completed by the Warren Greatrex-trained Boite, who takes a big step up in grade from handicap company.

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