Buveur D'Air better than ever in Fighting Fifth romp

A week on from the disappointment of Might Bite at Haydock, it was a very different story for the Nicky Henderson yard as he took the wraps off a trio of the stable's leading lights.

Although again unbeaten last season, dual Champion Hurdle winner Buveur D'Air (173+) had looked like he might be on the downgrade when making hard work of landing the odds at this year's festival, but, perhaps benefiting from a wind operation, he looked better than ever when sprinting clear of Samcro (163) to land a second successive BetVictor Fighting Fifth Hurdle.

Although the early pace was steady, the form looks solid with the runner-up in turn pulling a long way clear of two more of last season's elite novices.