Buveur D’Air will feature in next month’s Contenders Hurdle at Sandown, trainer Nicky Henderson has confirmed.
There was a possibility that the dual champion hurdler could be given extra time to recover from his disappointing defeat to stablemate Verdana Blue in the Christmas Hurdle and head straight to the Cheltenham Festival in March.
He is still favourite for the Champion Hurdle and you can get the latest Cheltenham predictions here.
However, Henderson was happy with Buveur D’Air’s form in a gallop this weekend and the Seven Barrows handler has given him the go-ahead to feature on February 2.
“He was in great form this morning, absolutely super,” said Henderson.
“He is heading for the Contenders, and that is the plan. If he doesn’t go to the Contenders he doesn’t go anywhere, and I am then going to have to gallop him at home.
“At least he might as well go have a gallop on the racecourse at Sandown.”
