Nicky Henderson is adamant that Buveur D’Air remains on course for a bid to reclaim his Unibet Champion Hurdle crown at the Cheltenham Festival in March, despite suffering a surprise defeat to Navajo Pass in The New One Unibet Hurdle.
The 2017 and 2018 Champion Hurdle hero had to settle for second best in the Grade Two behind the Donald McCain-trained five year-old on his first start in 420 days.
Having travelled well and into contention it looked a case of when the 8-11 favourite, who had not been sighted since sustaining a hoof injury in the 2019 Fighting Fifth Hurdle at Newcastle, would pick up the early pacesetter on the run down the last.
It was not to be however for Buveur D’Air, who was ridden by Nico de Boinville for the first time, with Navajo Pass continuing to find plenty for pressure to pass the post with four and a quarter lengths in hand.
Henderson said: “You have to say of course you are disappointed but he set a really good gallop and they were going as fast as they could behind him. He felt as if he was going to get there comfortably but then when he has got to the last he has had a big blow.
“The ground is not for him but he has done well. His jumping was as good as ever. He is so slick and quick. He jumped every hurdle like he always used to. I expect him to come on hugely. They’ve gone a good gallop in that ground and it has found him out, but he has run a solid race.
“He will definitely go for the Champion Hurdle and he wouldn’t run before it. I think to get out today rather than wait for Sandown, which was the original plan, gives you more time to work with it. You get that under him now and we’ve got time to work away.
“I'm disappointed that he's been beaten - of course you want to win and win on the bridle - but it was hardly ever going to happen in that ground, and it's been touch and go all week.
"I think they've done well to race to be honest with you; it was perfectly race-able otherwise I wouldn't have run, but it was very, very testing.
"If anything it's probably got more testing throughout the afternoon, but neither he nor Ballyandy could have gone any quicker. The winner was out-pacing them early on, and if he likes the ground, fair play to him.
"I do (think the old Buveur d'Air is in there), and he was bound to need it today. He looked big to me, the scales were saying that he's lighter than he looks, but he does look big, and he needed to go and do something like that.
"He couldn't have done much more than we have done without running him, and I'm pleased we have here. I'd have preferred a different result, but it's one we have to take, and we know what we've got to do.
"He pulled up sound and everything is right; there are no cuts or bumps or pieces of wood sticking out. He'll be tired tonight, there's no doubt about that."
