Buveur D’Air held back for Aintree

Trainer Nicky Henderson has confirmed two-time Festival winner Buveur D’Air will miss Cheltenham and instead head straight to Aintree.

The 10-year-old made his return from over a year out at Haydock in January when finishing second of three runners to Navajo Pass at Haydock, after which Henderson indicated he was satisfied enough to keep him in the frame for a run in the Champion Hurdle.

The JP McManus-owned charge would have been bidding for a third Champion Hurdle win had he gone to Prestbury Park following his victories in 2017 and 2018.

Buveur D’Air fell on his last appearance at the Cheltenham Festival when seeking to complete his hat-trick and Henderson has now confirmed he won’t be heading to next week’s meeting after deciding to keep him fresh for next month’s Grand National meeting instead.

He’ll run in the Aintree Hurdle at the Merseyside track and Henderson hopes the step up to two-and-a-half-miles could bring about a return to the winners’ enclosure.

“Having discussed plans with JP over the weekend, we have decided that Buveur D’Air will NOT run @CheltenhamRaces and instead will wait for @AintreeRaces,” Henderson tweeted.

“The extra distance will suit him well. He and Epatante are in very good form, and we are very much looking forward to next week.”