Unibet Christmas Hurdle (Grade 1)

Off time: 14:30 | Winning time: 3m 47.10s

Boite²⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 11-7| J: G Sheehan| T: W Greatrex| OR: 140| D

66/1

140-rated handicapper who has a mountain to climb against the principals on these terms, and in any case would be far more effective over a longer trip (2m4f+).

Form: 1F05-57

Buveur D'Air²⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 11-7| J: B J Geraghty| T: N J Henderson| OR: 172| CD

1/4

Quite simply is the best 2m hurdler in town; dual winner of the Champion Hurdle and the Fighting Fifth (put Samcro well and truly in his place at Newcastle); no obvious shortcomings as he bids for a second straight Christmas Hurdle.

Form: 1/1111-1

Global Citizen²⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 11-7| J: David Bass| T: B Pauling| OR: 150| CD

11/1

Impressive 9L winner of the 2m Grade 2 Dovecote Novices' Hurdle (good) on his sole previous Kempton start and has upped his game even further this season by taking the Listed Gerry Fielden in a game fashion at Newbury (2m, soft) 25 days ago.

Form: 2116-21

If The Cap Fits³²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-7| J: N D Fehily| T: H Fry| OR: 150| CD

7/1

Beaten just twice in an eight-race career, including by today's rival Verdana Blue in the Elite Hurdle at Wincanton (2m, good); back to winning ways latest (2m3f+ Grade 2 Ascot Hurdle); also took the 2m novice contest on this card in 2017.

Form: 4/111-21

Verdana Blue²¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-0| J: N de Boinville| T: N J Henderson| OR: 152| BF| CD

11/2

Enters the fray via a most unconventional route (1m4f AW Listed Race) but this mare has also already enjoyed a productive season over hurdles, beating today's rival If The Cap Fits by 2¼L in Wincanton's Elite Hurdle (2m, good).

Form: 300-114

Forecasts

Buveur D'Air (1/4), Verdana Blue (11/2), If The Cap Fits (7/1), Global Citizen (11/1), Boite (66/1)

Look no further than the brilliant BUVEUR D'AIR. Winner of the Champion Hurdle in each of the past two seasons, he added yet another Fighting Fifth Hurdle to his already burgeoning CV when fully deflating the hype which had built up around the Irish challenger Samcro. Furthermore, his trainer Nicky Henderson is an absolute master at handling these top-class 2-milers. By recording a second straight Christmas Hurdle win, that aforementioned CV will hold an obvious degree of symmetry in terms of Grade 1 victories.