Buveur D’Air in top shape for Newcastle mission, says Nicky Henderson

Buveur D’Air is giving off the right signs ahead of his reappearance in the Betfair Fighting Fifth Hurdle at Newcastle on Saturday week.

Nicky Henderson’s charge lost his Champion Hurdle crown in March when falling at Cheltenham and was subsequently beaten at Aintree.

However, he got back to winning ways at Punchestown and still sets the standard in the division – but with Fusil Raffles and Pentland Hills both Grade One-winning juveniles from inside his own stable, dangers could lurk from within.

“Buveur D’Air goes back to Newcastle for his annual spin. We are very pleased with him,” said Henderson.

“I expect Klassical Dream has got a ton of improvement in him (after his defeat last weekend). It is like Fusil Raffles – I don’t think everybody was overawed by him at Wincaton (Elite Hurdle), but I can assure you he is an awful lot better than that and I can assure you he was short of work.

“With the three horses we had to try to use the Elite Hurdle. He (Fusil Raffles) will come back into the Christmas Hurdle.

“If all goes well him and Buveur D’Air will appear there. We didn’t want to go to the Greatwood with top-weight, so we had to go to Wincanton and yes he was short, but he got away with it.”

Meanwhile, County Hurdle winner Ch’tibello will reappear in the International Hurdle back at Cheltenham next month.

Dan Skelton’s charge followed his Festival triumph by going close in the Aintree Hurdle behind Supasundae – but will drop back down in trip for his first run of the new season.

“He goes to the International, and I’m very happy with him,” said Skelton.

“Obviously Pentland Hills is going to be there, and a couple of others no doubt, but we have to come out of handicaps.

“We had a very good run in the Aintree Hurdle at the end of last season. I think the County Hurdle track is the perfect track for him. If you could invent the track that would be the one.

“He is an older, stronger horse now. I will have him ready, and I won’t be saying he will improve for that.”

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