11th Mar 2019 | Cheltenham Festival
Champion Hurdle Tip: Buveur D'Air
Defeat at Kempton has coloured his campaign but is the defending champion and has done enough this season to suggest he hasn't regressed. Rivals aren't exactly queuing up to take his crown.
Buveur D’Air is on the drift in the Champion Hurdle and is out to a barely believable 11/4. Considering the lack of strength in depth, only Apple’s Jade and Laurina are realistic rivals he’s almost an each-way bet.
Perhaps because of his record over hurdles (12/14) his shock defeat at Kempton has stuck in the mind of punters. It was a disappointing reverse but he was only beaten a short-head and has since bounced back to win at Sandown, his usual prep race for the Champion Hurdle.
Looking strictly at ratings his last three wins at Sandown in the Contenders Hurdle have produced RPRs of 157-155-162. Each one was followed by an uplift and victory at Cheltenham so it’s not beyond reason to expect the same.
Immediately after last year’s win he was priced up at 5/2 to land the hat-trick and with the guarantee of a run we can get 11/4 when not a lot has changed in-between.
Odds correct at time of publishing: 19:27 11th Mar, 2019 but subject to change