Buveur D'Air eyeing place with immortals at Cheltenham Festival

Expect the unexpected has been his mantra for four decades as a trainer and so it proved again.

Henderson's hopes of claiming Cheltenham's three most prestigious races - for which he boasted the three hot favourites - were dealt a blow with the news Altior was reported lame and is now a doubt for Wednesday's Champion Chase.

But Henderson has every faith that Buveur D'Air - another shining star in his firmament - will deliver a seventh Unibet Champion Hurdle for a trainer whose Festival record is unparalleled.

Henderson is already the most successful trainer of the meeting's first showpiece race and it's 33 years ago and counting since three-time winner See You Then first took him to the winners' enclosure.

Whether Buveur D'Air is in the same class is a moot point but the fact he's so strongly fancied to be the first double winner since 2005 should tell you something.

And he looks every bit of value as the odds-on favourite in the 13-strong field, as he seeks to become only the second horse, after Kribensis in 1990, to win hurdling's triple crown - the Fighting Fifth, Christmas Hurdle and Champion Hurdle treble.

"He's a fantastic jumper and is so quick it is frightening," said Henderson, who boasts four runners in the race, including the evergreen three-time runner-up My Tent Or Yours plus Charli Parcs and Verdana Blue.

"When he was third in the Supreme to Altior at the Festival two years ago, we knew he was a good horse and on the way up and I think he is improving still, he is only getting stronger.

"His form doesn't tell you anything dramatic, just that he's come through his season building up to this in good shape and we're very happy with where we are."

Given Buveur D'Air is eyeing legend status - joining horses such as Hardy Eustace, Sea Pigeon, Monksfield and Bula as a double champion - it's worth remembering last season he was novice chasing, with the Arkle Trophy his likely objective.

But Henderson is nothing if not shrewd and the decision to switch him back to hurdles - given a relatively weak renewal of this race 12 months ago - has proved inspired.

Especially when Altior ultimately proved his value as Henderson's star novice chaser, even if his hopes of graduating with a championship race this week remain in flux.

Willie Mullins also sends off four in the Champion Hurdle, whose two mile trip will be a test of stamina on heavy ground, the toughest Festival going for 29 years.

Faugheen, the winner of this race in 2015, heads his charges but arguably two-time Festival winner Yorkhill - diverted back over hurdles after last season's novice chase campaign - could relish the conditions.

Ruby Walsh will still ride Faugheen, who will wear cheekpieces for the first time, a hint of desperation from Mullins who is famed for deploring headgear sparingly.

And while the bullish confidence of three years ago has evaporated, those that saw him win last November, after a 665 day break, can cling to some hope all that promise is not lost.

"We've nothing to lose but no-one wants to see a reproduction of his last two runs," said Walsh. "We need to find his form again but that race in November is why I'm riding him.

"Hopefully being back at Cheltenham will put the fire in his belly. The atmosphere of the Festival can put him on springs, hopefully it will gain."

James Toney/Sportsbeat 2018