Champion Hurdle: who will be the new superstar after Buveur D'Air blow?

An increasingly open-looking Unibet Champion Hurdle division took another twist over the weekend when two-time winner Buveur D'Air was beaten at prohibitive odds of 2-13 in the Fighting Fifth Hurdle at Newcastle, picking up a likely season-ending injury in the process.

Despite his shock Newcastle defeat to Cornerstone Lad, Buveur D'Air was a best-priced 10-1 shot to add a third Champion Hurdle victory at the Cheltenham Festival in March to his two successes in 2017 and 2018.

However, with his trainer Nicky Henderson confirming he has a "very serious" splinter injury and looks set to miss the rest of the season, the Champion Hurdle picture poses lots of questions and not many answers.

Buveur D'Air (left) will likely miss the season after suffering an injury in his shock defeat by Cornerstone LadCredit: John Grossick (racingpost.com/photos)

Last season's ill-fated winner Espoir D'Allen, who like Buveur D'Air wore the green-and-gold silks of owner JP McManus for his memorable triumph, is sadly also not in the frame this season after his freak accident at trainer Gavin Cromwell's stables in the summer.

Without the winners of the last three Champion Hurdles the festival's opening day highlight is open for a new star to dominate.

2020 Champion Hurdle market (best prices with at least two firms):

4-1 Saldier
9-2 Klassical Dream
8-1 Pentland Hills, Envoi Allen
10 Buveur D'Air
12 Fusil Raffles
20 Coeur Sublime, Benie Des Dieux
25 Epatante, Sharjah
33 Silver Streak, Laurina, Melon, Thomas Darby, Elixir De Nutz, City Island, Band Of Outlaws, Cornerstone Lad

Willie Mullins and Henderson both have strong hands to play, which is unsurprising given the pair have accounted for eight of the last 11 Champion Hurdle winners.

Brilliant Supreme Novices' Hurdle scorer Klassical Dream entered the autumn as ante-post favourite but now competes for that position with stablemate Saldier, who beat Klassical Dream emphatically in the Morgiana Hurdle at Punchestown last month.

Supreme Novices' Hurdle winner Klassical Dream is still prominent at the top of the Champion Hurdle market despite his Punchestown defeatCredit: Mark Cranham (racingpost.com/photos)

Other potential candidates for Mullins, at least in the bookmakers lists, are talented mares Benie Des Dieux and Laurina, while two-time Champion Hurdle runner-up Melon could come into contention if a novice chasing campaign is shunned. After all, Buveur D'Air abandoned a similar campaign to win his first Champion Hurdle.

Coeur Sublime, second in last season's Triumph Hurdle, was thoroughly impressive when strolling to a 15-length success in the Grade 2 WKD Hurdle at Down Royal and could offer a challenger for Gordon Elliott.

Henderson is not short of Champion Hurdle options despite Buveur D'Air's injury, with Coeur Sublime's Triumph conqueror Pentland Hills leading the Seven Barrows charge.

Triumph Hurdle winner Pentland Hills could still give trainer Nicky Henderson a potent Champion Hurdle weaponCredit: Grossick Racing (racingpost.com/photos)

He has yet to run this season but remains unbeaten over hurdles and is touted to run in the International Hurdle at Cheltenham on December 14.

His stablemate Fusil Raffles has been a tad busier, winning the Elite Hurdle at Wincanton after a hard-fought tussle with Grand Sancy. He is unbeaten for Henderson but missed last year's festival and has not obtained any Cheltenham experience yet.

And then there is Epatante, who shone a little light on Henderson's Saturday when scooting six lengths clear of her nearest rival in the Listed Intermediate Hurdle at Newbury. She showed an eyecatching turn of foot and could creep into the picture given the uncertainty about so many others.

Read more on the Champion Hurdle division here:

Cornerstone Lad shocks dual champion Buveur D'Air in Fighting Fifth

'Very serious' splinter injury looks set to end Buveur D'Air's season

Danny Mullins: Saldier has all the ingredients to dazzle in the Champion Hurdle

Fusil Raffles produces workmanlike display to win Elite Hurdle for Henderson

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