Champion Hurdle winner Buveur D'Air out to confirm his superiority

Unibet Christmas Hurdle (Grade 1) 2m 4yo+ | ITV/RUK

The 32Red King George VI Chase may be packed with Timico Cheltenham Gold Cup contenders but the Unibet Christmas Hurdle features the latest winner of the Champion Hurdle.

Buveur D'Air was actually a budding chaser at this stage last season, but the decision to switch back from fences was handsomely rewarded as he gave Nicky Henderson a record sixth success in the Champion Hurdle last March.

Nor was there any fluke in that performance, as he confirmed his superiority over Cheltenham runner-up My Tent Or Yours by following up in the Aintree Hurdle a month later.

And though he had little to beat when trotting up at 1-6 in the Fighting Fifth Hurdle at Newcastle on his reappearance, his slick jumping and serene progress throughout suggested strongly that he has returned as good as ever.

JP McManus' hurdler will be long odds-on once again as he bids to complete a Grade 1 four-timer, in a race in which The New One looks his main danger.

"He's in good form and set to go," said Henderson. "Everything has gone well and you'd like to think he's come on for Newcastle. If it rains it won't worry him.

"The New One is the one to beat and he's a very good horse."

The New One has finished second in this race three times previously, and has twice chased home a top-class hurdler in the JP McManus colours after finding My Tent Or Yours (2013) and Yanworth (2016) too good.

Another second place would at least give Nigel Twiston-Davies something to celebrate as the trainer pointed out: "If we get second prize he'll go past £1 million in earnings, and that would be some achievement."

The New One has 19 wins and six seconds from 34 career starts. His narrow defeat by three-time Champion Hurdle runner-up My Tent Or Yours in their annual International Hurdle encounter last time confirms he is losing none of his elan as he approaches his tenth birthday.

"There's no Faugheen [2015 winner] this year," Twiston-Davies said. "But we've still got to beat another Champion Hurdle winner in there. It's not going to be easy but you shouldn't be frightened of one horse."

Old Guard is another who has been there but not done it before, namely two years ago when fourth to Yanworth and The New One after arriving at the top of his game following wins in the Greatwood and International Hurdles at Cheltenham.

He was third in the Greatwood this season and not beaten far in fifth in the International, but Paul Nicholls expects to be playing for a place.

"He always goes well at Kempton and you'd say it looks a race between us and The New One for second," said the trainer. "It's a small field, there's great prize-money and he isn't easy to place so it's worth running."

Old Guard: tends to produce his best around KemptonCredit: Charlie Crowhurst

Dan Skelton has no lofty ambitions of overturning the Champion Hurdle winner with useful handicapper Mohaayed. He is eyeing potential place money, with nearly £13,000 on offer for finishing third and well over £6,000 for fourth.

"We aren't going in to it thinking any differently," said the trainer. "We knew there were going to be only a handful of runners and there is plenty of good money so we thought we'd have a crack, then he'll be left to the spring."

Chesterfield was declared for the £120,000 contest before finishing 13th of 17 in what was the Ladbroke Hurdle at Ascot on Saturday, and should he run and complete he would be guaranteed a slice of the prize-money.

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