Henderson hails Buveur D’Air’s Christmas Hurdle prep

Nicky Henderson is happy with Buveur D’Air‘s preparations as he looks to defend the Christmas Hurdle at Kempton on Boxing Day.

The JP McManus-owned seven-year-old enjoyed a treble success last term, having also won the Fighting Fifth at Newcastle and Contenders Hurdle at Sandown, in addition to his Christmas Hurdle win over the festive period.

Buveur D’Air then claimed the Champion Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival in March, before seeing off the threat of Samcro at Newcastle earlier this month.

And Henderson claims the signs are pointing towards another bit of Christmas cheer in two weeks’ time.

The Seven Barrows handler said: “I think the nice thing about Newcastle was it was the day he actually gained recognition.

“I think last year the Fighting Fifth was a weak affair and he won that very easily and the Christmas Hurdle was a weak affair and he won that easily. The Contenders Hurdle is a lovely race, but it is always a gallop for somebody and I don’t think he was at his best in the Champion Hurdle for various reasons.

“At Newcastle the other day people thought ‘wow, he is really good’, which was nice.”