Buveur D'Air tops 27 in Unibet Champion Hurdle
The reigning champion Buveur D'Air stars among 27 entries, up from 23 last year, for the Unibet Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham.
Nicky Henderson's charge is trying to become the sixth three-time winner of the race, following in the hoofprints of Hatton's Grace (1949, 1950, 1951), Sir Ken (1952, 1953, 1954), Persian War (1968, 1969, 1970), See You Then (1985, 1986, 1987) and Istabraq (1998, 1999, 2000).
A winner of 11 of his 13 starts over hurdles, he looked as good as ever on his comeback this term when routing Irish hope Samcro by eight lengths in the BetVictor Fighting Fifth Hurdle at Newcastle but suffered a shock short-head defeat at the hands of stablemate Verdana Blue in the Unibet Christmas Hurdle at Kempton Park on Boxing Day.
Henderson, with seven successes, has the best record of any trainer ever in the history of the Unibet Champion Hurdle. The six-strong team from the champion trainer this time around includes Brain Power, Call Me Lord, Charli Parcs and We Have A Dream.
Willie Mullins is responsible for five of the 12 Irish-trained entries, with his quintet headed by last year's neck runner-up Melon and rising star Laurina, who was a facile 18-length winner of the Dawn Run Mares' Novices' Hurdle at last year's meeting.
His strong hand is completed by Galway Hurdle scorer Sharjah, who has since bolstered his CV with Grade One triumphs at Punchestown and Leopardstown, Cilaos Emery and Saldier.
His main rival in Ireland, Gordon Elliott, has Samcro and outstanding racemare Apple's Jade among his four-strong team. Last season's JCB Triumph Hurdle hero Farclas and Tombstone are also engaged for the County Meath handler.
Gavin Cromwell could have his first Unibet Champion Hurdle runner courtesy of Espoir D'Allen, who like Buveur D'Air is owned by JP McManus, the most successful owner in Unibet Champion Hurdle history with seven victories.
Espoir D'Allen has been successful on six of his seven starts over hurdles, with a 100 per cent record so far this season. The five-year-old started the campaign with victory in the Grade Three Fishery Lane Hurdle at Naas in November before registering an impressive eight-length success in the Irish Independent Hurdle at Limerick over Christmas.
The County Meath-based Cromwell said: "Espoir D'Allen is in good form and we are happy with him. He will run next week in the G3 Limestone Lad Hurdle [Naas, January 27], and has been given an entry in the Champion Hurdle. We will have to see whether he runs in that race at Cheltenham or elsewhere. Five-year-olds don't have a great record in the Champion Hurdle, but he is showing the right signs. We will see how he gets on at Naas first."
The remaining Irish entries are the two most recent winners of the Irish Champion Hurdle in Supasundae (Jessica Harrington and Petit Mouchoir (Henry de Bromhead).
Improving grey Silver Streak (Evan Williams) has made great strides over hurdles this season. After a decisive victory in the Welsh Champion Hurdle at Ffos Las in October, the six-year-old ran twice at Cheltenham, going down by a neck in the Unibet Greatwood Handicap Hurdle at The November Meeting and filling the same position behind Brain Power in the Unibet International Hurdle at The International on December 15.
The trainer said: "Silver Streak is in good form and came out of his second in the International well. He has enjoyed a great season, with some excellent performances, and has run to a good level. I think we will probably run in the Unibet Champion Hurdle. You never know what will happen in these races.
"We are not going there thinking we will win it, but although it is a long shot, we will give it a go. Hopefully, there is more improvement to come and better ground is something that suits him. He will have a run before Cheltenham in one of the Champion Hurdle trials."
Other entries in the Unibet Champion Hurdle include high-class stayer Wholestone (Nigel Twiston-Davies), third in last season's Sun Racing Stayers' Hurdle and Randox Health County Hurdle victor Mohaayed (Dan Skelton).
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