Henderson: Buveur D'Air can return to his brilliant best in Aintree Hurdle

3.25 Aintree
Betway Aintree Hurdle | Grade 1 | 2m4f | 4yo+ | ITV/RTV

Buveur expected to bounce back

Buveur D'Air's bid for a hat-trick of Champion Hurdles may have come unstuck thanks to a mistake at the third flight last month, leading to a first fall in a 21-race career, but trainer Nicky Henderson is confident the eight-year-old can return to winning ways.

A superbly slick hurdler, Buveur D'Air's style of jumping does not leave much margin for error, and at Cheltenham he paid the price when tumbling out of the race.

Thankfully he is reported to be none the worse for the experience, and Henderson is looking forward to having him back in action.

He said: "He had a fall and it's the first time he's ever done anything like that. He's in good form and had a nice school the other day with Barry Geraghty.

"Going up in trip doesn't worry me as he's won this race before and all is good with him."

The Willie Mullins-trained pair Melon and Faugheen look to be Buveur D'Air's main opposition, but Henderson has reinforcements to call upon, with Verdana Blue and Brain Power also running.

The soft ground at Cheltenham did not allow Verdana Blue to perform to her best when finishing fifth in the Champion Hurdle, while Brain Power was pulled up in the same race.

Assessing their chances, Henderson added: "The big question mark with Verdana Blue is whether she'll stay the two and a half miles. The extra half-mile might not be in her favour.

"I don't think the trip will bother Brain Power and he's in good form."

Buveur D'Air pros Top-class hurdler who is unbeaten in previous two runs over hurdles at Aintree, including in this race in 2017. The clear form pick even allowing for his fall last time

Cons Although reported to have schooled well since Cheltenham, it is natural for there to be a scintilla of doubt backing a horse at odds-on after a fall. Some early accurate leaps will assuage those feelings

Faugheen to roll back the years?

Ruby Walsh never lets his heart rule his head so he obviously feels Faugheen has a better chance than Melon.

Some firms, including Paddy Power, think he has made the wrong call as they have installed Melon at a shorter price than Faugheen.

So, why did Walsh opted for an 11-year-old over a horse four years younger who was second in the Champion Hurdle last time?

Faugheen: heads to Aintree for the first timeCredit: Patrick McCann

The rider explained in his Racing TV column: "Faugheen is in great order. He ran a great race in the Stayers’ Hurdle behind Paisley Park, where he travelled super but just couldn’t go with Sam Spinner as they turned for home.

"He stayed on well, though, having looked like he might fade and rallied well to finish third and has a good chance of running into the money again.

"We have been happy with him since and two and a half miles should suit him as well, but this is a different proposition to that race."

Willie Mullins also reports Faugheen to have come out of Cheltenham in rude health and believes the drop in trip will suit.

Mullins said: "Faugheen has never been to Aintree but ran a good race in the Stayers' Hurdle and the drop back in trip shouldn't be a problem."

Straight after the Champion Hurdle, as he walked back to the weighing room, Paul Townend said the old spark was back in Melon, so is the stage set for his first success in more than 17 months?

Mullins has always said Melon might stay beyond two miles and this will be the first time he has tried further. It certainly looked like two and a half miles was within his range as he fought back to hold onto second in the Champion Hurdle, albeit 15 lengths in arrears of the impressive winner Espoir D'Allen.

It has been a long time between drinks for him but there have been some brave performance in defeat since, most notably finishing runner-up in the Champion Hurdle for the past two years.

"Just like Faugheen, Melon will be running at Aintree for the first time," added Mullins. "He came out of Cheltenham well and we think the step up in trip and the track will suit him."

Faugheen pros Travelled as well as anything into the home turn in the Stayers' Hurdle, hitting an in-running low of 2.48, so could prosper over this shorter trip
Cons Although he didn't run badly in the Stayers' Hurdle, there remains a strong suspicion his best days are behind him and he is officially rated 10lb below his best

Melon pros Second in the Champion Hurdle for the last two years and shapes as though a step up in trip will suit
Cons Never tried two and a half miles, while you have to go all the way back to November 2017 for his last win

Numbers game
Toby Balding is the winningmost trainer of the Aintree Hurdle with five consecutive victories between 1989 and 1993, four of which were provided by the great Morley Street. Should Nicky Henderson win the race he will join Balding on five wins. Henderson's four previous winners are Oscar Whisky (2011 and 2012), Buveur D'Air (2017) and L'Ami Serge (2018).

Supasundae in great order

Jessica Harrington knows what is required to win the race having struck with Jezki in 2015, and she is confident Supasundae can bounce back after a disappointing effort at Cheltenham.

Metronomically consistent, Supasundae had not finished out of the first four in 14 previous outings before the Stayers' Hurdle last month, but on that occasion finished seventh, beaten 24 lengths.

Harrington is hoping normal service will be resumed, as she said on Wednesday: "He's in great order. He went over this morning and everyone is very happy with him.

"As long as it's not gluey, like it was at Cheltenham, he should be fine on the ground. His run in the Stayers' was his first ever bad run for us and it just looked like he didn't get home.

"This will hopefully be more his cup of tea and you will see a different horse."

Step up in trip for Streak

The feeling in the Silver Streak camp is that they are playing with house money at Liverpool after the six-year-old outran his odds spectacularly when third in the Champion Hurdle.

An 80-1 shot at the festival, Silver Streak stayed on doggedly to get in the places, much to the delight of trainer Evan Williams, who had suggested earlier in the season the horse would not be able to win the Greatwood Hurdle – which he very nearly did, being beaten a neck – let alone finish third in a Grade 1.

"I couldn't really imagine being in the situation we're in," Williams said. "It's a joy to have a horse good enough to compete in these races.

"Whether he'll stay two and a half miles I don't know, but I think it's worth a go. The horse has exceeded all our expectations and we're there to enjoy the day."

Summerville back to his best?

For Summerville Boy, the Aintree Hurdle offers the chance to salvage a season that has been disrupted by injury.

Last year's Supreme Novices' winner has not fired on two starts this season, but has been off since December with a hairline fracture of his off-hind leg.

Summerville Boy: off with an injury since DecemberCredit: Mark Cranham

His recovery has gone well and trainer Tom George is looking forward to getting him back in action.

"He's had a good preparation, is working well and is in good form," he reported. "We're straight back in the deep end but there are no other options for him."

Ch'tibello steps up

County Hurdle winner Ch'tibello completes the field and is certainly no forlorn hope as he steps up from handicap success at Cheltenham last month over this longer trip.

Trainer Dan Skelton said: "He's in the form of his life, but historically he's struggled at Grade 1 level and come up short.

"He's as good as I can have him and the step up to two and a half miles holds no fears."

Spotlight verdict

The key horse is Buveur D'Air, who won this in 2017 and will be hard to beat on his best form but did take a nasty fall when bidding for a third Champion Hurdle win last time so makes limited appeal at a short price here. Each-way preference is for stablemate Verdana Blue, who pipped Buveur D'Air at Kempton in December, should find this ground more suitable than soft going in the Champion Hurdle last time and for whom 2m4f ought to be fine. Faugheen is third best and the pick of the remainder.

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