Buveur D'Air winds up for Cheltenham with Contenders Hurdle hat-trick bid

1.50 Sandown888Sport Contenders Hurdle (Listed) | 2m | 4yo+ | ITV4

Nobody will be more pleased if Sandown survives the snow than Nicky Henderson, who views the Contenders Hurdle as an important Cheltenham preparation for his heavy odds-on favourite Buveur D’Air.

The eight-year-old bids for a hat-trick in the Listed contest, having won as an odds-on favourite twice before claiming two Champion Hurdles at Cheltenham.

Owned by JP McManus, Buveur D’Air's season hasn't gone completely to plan as he finished a surprise second to stablemate Verdana Blue in the Grade 1 Christmas Hurdle at Kempton.

"The race has been a useful preparation for him and we need it badly," said Henderson. "He’s in great form after the Christmas Hurdle and the timing works perfectly.

"We were happy with his performance at Kempton, which is a different type of the track to the one he'll face on Saturday.”

Buveur D'Air: beat John Constable in last year's editionCredit: Edward Whitaker

Buveur D’Air is a general 11-8 shot for the Champion Hurdle in March and while the five-runner race at Sandown may not be a blockbuster, it offers fans a chance to see a racing superstar.

"The reception the likes of Buveur D’Air and Altior receive is much appreciated and it’s what jump racing is all about," said Henderson.

"We get calls and letters every day, which gives us a sense of how much these good old jumpers are appreciated. They’re around for years and people associate with them."

The Colin Tizzard-trained Vision Des Flos, who has had a wind operation since finishing fifth in the Unibet International Hurdle in December, is among the four contenders taking on the eight-time Grade 1 winner.

Vision Des Flos (left) finished second in last year's Champion Novice Hurdle at PunchestownCredit: Alain Barr (racingpost.com/photos)

Grade 2 winner Roksana makes her seasonal reappearance and Sandown debut for trainer Dan Skelton.

The seven-year-old has not been seen since finishing second to RSA Chase favourite Santini in the Sefton Novices’ Hurdle at Aintree last April.

She will be joined by De Dollar Man, who looks to bounce back from his pulled-up effort in a handicap chase at Ascot in December.

"It’s a bit of a confidence-booster as he broke a blood vessel last time after making a mistake," said trainer Evan Williams. "It looks like the type of race where he can have a nice time."

Rayvin Black: returns to his favourite trackCredit: Mark Cranham

The five-strong field is completed by Rayvin Black, who has enjoyed plenty of good days at Sandown, winning twice from 11 outings. His trainer, Oliver Sherwood, won this race with Aldino in 1989.

The ten-year-old finished third in the Grade 2 Coral Hurdle in November and reverts back to hurdles after running in a graduation chase at Ascot a month later.

"He's tried and tested at Sandown and will love the ground – the softer the better for him," said Sherwood. "He'll likely give Buveur D'Air a good lead but, as we know, funny things happen at sea."

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