Stan James Champion Hurdle report: Buveur D'Air wins
Buveur D'Air won the Stan James Champion Hurdle. Check out our report and reaction from connections and watch the free video replay.
3.30 Cheltenham result
1st Buveur D'Air (5/1)
2nd My Tent Or Yours (16/1)
3rd Petit Mouchoir (6/1)
Race Report
Buveur D'Air (5/1) produced a devastating performance to outclass his rivals in the Stan James Champion Hurdle, justifying connections' decision to abandon a chasing career.
Nicky Henderson's horse was sent over fences after winning the Grade One novices' hurdle at Aintree last spring, but despite winning both starts over the larger obstacles was diverted to hurdles midway through the season.
Always travelling powerfully in midfield under Noel Fehily, a mistake two from home failed to halt his momentum and when the rider said go, the response was that of a classy horse as Buveur D'Air's speed took him clear.
My Tent Or Yours (16/1) produced a mighty performance to finish second for the third time in this race, with the front-running Petit Mouchoir (6/1) third having turned for home in front.
Favourite Yanworth jumped slowly early on and the alarm bells were sounding loudly at the top of the hill as his chance quickly disappeared.
Footpad stayed on well for fourth, once again finishing on the heels of Petit Mouchoir, with The New One fifth.
The novice Moon Racer, of whom there had been so much chat about which race he would run in, was pulled up by Tom Scudamore after a making a bad mistake just after halfway but was reported to be none the worse.
Sky Bet made the winner 7/2 for next year's Champion Hurdle.
Reaction
Noel Fehily: "Early on I felt I was doing too much and I thought it took me a while to get him switched off.
"He's just a very good horse. It's just fantastic. It was a great performance, it doesn't matter to me that people are saying it wasn't a vintage race.
"You certainly appreciate it more second time around."
Nicky Henderson: "He won his two novice chases, but I just knew there was more there over hurdles. It was before Faugheen came out of the race that I said we'd go back (over hurdles).
"He's not very flashy at home but you had to feel that there was unfinished business. It was a very open race, but I just knew he was a very talented horse."
"You feel sorry for My Tent Or Yours. It's wonderful we've won the Champion Hurdle but that's three Champion Hurdles he's been second in. What else can you say about him? He's just sensational, but the young horse has done it.
"I had my doubts whether we'd done the right thing going back over hurdles after seeing Cloudy Dream run so well in the Arkle, given we beat him easily at Haydock.
"There wasn't a particular moment when I thought we should go back to hurdles but he'd only run four times, I just felt he had unfinished business over them.
"I think he could still go back chasing one day."
On a sixth Champion Hurdle victory: "It's great to break the record, but they are there to be broken I've always said.
"It's the people at Seven Barrows and all the owners I'm really happy for, they make it fun, which is what it should be.
"This place is all about winners and all you can really ask for is one, but I'm very lucky to have a huge team of really nice horses.
"It was obviously the right decision to go back hurdling, but part of me feels allI've done is make My Tent come second again!"
JP McManus: "It doesn't get much better than that, the first two in the Champion Hurdle.
"I can't remember exactly what Nicky said but he wanted to go back hurdling before any of the doubts about Faugheen and Annie Power.
"I just let him get on with it, he knows best.
"I'm delighted with My Tent too, to finish second at four Festivals is a great training performance.
"Yanworth got very warm before the race and he probably lost his race there.
"I wouldn't have been surprised if Barry (Geraghty) had picked Buveur but he said to me he didn't have to make the decision in the end."
Henry de Bromhead (trainer of Petit Mouchoir): "I'm delighted with him, he's run a fine race, and I'd say he's run to exactly the same mark as his Irish Champion win.
"We tried to put the others under pressure out in front. He might run again this season, but we'll get this season out of the way before making plans for next season (whether to go chasing or not)."