THE 2018 Champion Hurdle is already setting pulses racing, while we might well have a full dress rehearsal at Kempton over Christmas. Nicky Henderson sent JP McManus’ reigning champion Buveur D’Air to Newcastle at the weekend, just days after Faugheen made a hugely impressive return to action at Punchestown.

Buveur D’Air duly landed the Grade 1 Unibet Fighting Fifth Hurdle, adding to his many previous Grade 1 successes. They included this year’s Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham and the Aintree Hurdle at Liverpool. He has only been beaten three times in his 14-race career, twice in bumpers and just once over hurdles, when he was third in the 2016 Champion Hurdle. He was also unbeaten in two starts over fences before reverting to hurdles and gaining his biggest career successes.