Champion hurdler can find improvement
Meath jockey Barry Geraghty will surely be looking forward to Cheltenham next month, especially after trainer Nicky Henderson revealed that Buveur D'Air had run below par in the Champion Hurdle.
Henderson revealed at a media stable visit to his Seven Barrows yard north of Lambourn that Buveur D'Air had run at least 10lb below his best when winning the G1 Unibet Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham last year.
"He won it last year with a certain amount of ability and quite a lot of guts as well," said Henderson.
"Buveur is in good form and I am happy with him. I don't think he was at his best in last year's Champion Hurdle.
"Buveur D'Air will have to be better than he was last year as this year's Champion Hurdle is a better renewal. I still think he is the one to beat - I hope he is 10lb better than last year."
"Barry (Geraghty) said Buveur D'Air was fantastic at Newcastle while Sandown Park was great for him to get another victory - you have to keep working him so that is what we will do," added Henderson.
CHELTENHAM FACTFILE
TOP TRAINERS AT THE FESTIVAL
61 winnners - Willie Mullins
60 winners - Nicky Henderson
43 winners - Paul Nicholls
Irish Independent Leading Trainer Award 2018
Trainer 1st 2nd 3rd
GORDON ELLIOTT IRE 8 1 5
Willie Mullins IRE 7 5 4
Nicky Henderson 2 6 1
Paul Nicholls 2 1 1
Colin Tizzard 2 - 2
CHELTENHAM 2019
TUESDAY 12th MARCH
Champion Day(Old Course) - total prizemoney £1,175,000
Time Race Distance Prizemoney
1.30pm Sky Bet Supreme Novices' Hurdle (Grade 1) - 2m 87y - £125,000
2.10pm Racing Post Arkle Novices' Chase (Grade1) - 1m 7f 199y - £175,000
2.50pm Ultima Handicap Chase (Grade 3) - 3m 1f - £110,000
3.30pm Unibet Champion Hurdle (Grade 1) - 2m 87y £450,000
4.10pm OLBG Mares' Hurdle (Grade 1) - 2m 3f 200y £120,000
(registered as the David Nicholson Mares' Hurdle)
4.50pm Close Brothers Novices' Handicap Chase (Listed) (0-145) - 2m 4f 44y £70,000
5.30pm National Hunt Chase (Amateur Riders' Novices' Chase) (Grade 2)- 3m 7f 147y £125,000
WEDNESDAY 13th MARCH
Ladies Day - (Old Course & Cross Country) - total prizemoney £1,020,000
Time Race Distance Prizemoney
1.30pm Ballymore Novices' Hurdle (Grade 1) - 2m 5f - £125,000
(registered as the Baring Bingham)
2.10pm RSA Insurance Novices' Chase (Grade 1) - 3m 80y - £175,000
2.50pm Coral Cup Handicap Hurdle (Grade 3) - 2m 5f - £100,000
3.30pm Betway Queen Mother Champion Chase (Grade 1) - 1m 7f 199y - £400,000
4.10pm Glenfarclas Cross Country Chase - 3m 6f 37y £65,000
4.50pm Boodles Juvenile Handicap Hurdle (Grade 3) - 2m 87y £80,000
(registered as the Fred Winter)
5.30pm Weatherbys Champion Bumper (Grade 1) - 2m 87y £75,000
THURSDAY 14th MARCH
St Patrick's Thursday - (New Course) - total prizemoney £1,195,000
Time Race Distance Prizemoney
1.30pm JLT Novices' Chase (Grade 1) (registered as the Golden Miller) - 2m 3f 166y £150,000
2.10pm Pertemps Network Final (Handicap Hurdle) (Grade 3) - 2m 7f 213y £100,000
2.50pm Ryanair Chase (Grade 1) (registered as the Festival Trophy) (Grade 1)2m 4f 127y £350,000
3.30pm Sun Racing Stayers' Hurdle (Grade 1)- - 2m 7f 213y £325,000
4.10pm Brown Advisory & Merriebelle Stable Plate (Handicap Chase) (Grade 3) - 2m 4f 127y £110,000
4.50pm Dawn Run Mares' Novices' Hurdle (Grade 2) - 2m 179y £90,000
5.30pm Fulke Walwyn Kim Muir Amateur Riders' Handicap Chase - 3m 2f £70,000
FRIDAY 15th MARCH
Gold Cup Day - New Course - total prizemoney £1,200,000
Time Race Distance Prizemoney
1.30pm JCB Triumph Hurdle (Grade 1 - 2m 179y £125,000
2.10pm Randox Health County Hurdle (Grade 3) - 2m 179y£100,000
2.50pm Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle (Grade 1) - 2m 7f 213y £125,000
(registered as the Spa Novices' Hurdle)
3.30pm Bulmers Cheltenham Gold Cup (Grade 1 - 3m 2f 70y £625,000
4.10pm St James's Place Foxhunter Chase - 3m 2f 70y £45,000
4.50pm Johnny Henderson Grand Annual Handicap Chase (Grade 3) - 2m 62y £110,000
5.30pm Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys' Handicap Hurdle (0-145) - 2m 4f 56y £70,000