Henderson: Buveur D'Air on course for possible Faugheen clash at Kempton

Buveur D'Air is on course for Kempton's Christmas Hurdle – and a possible head-to-head with fellow Champion Hurdle winner Faugheen – after emerging from Saturday's easy Fighting Fifth Hurdle win in good order.

He is favourite at 4-7 with the handful of bookmakers betting on the race at this early stage, while dual former Christmas Hurdle winner Faugheen is available at 2-1.

However, that disparity is owed largely to the fact that Willie Mullins has pointed to the Ryanair Hurdle at Leopardstown on December 29 as a viable alternative for his recent Morgiana Hurdle winner and the odds are no reflection of how they would bet if both turn up.

Henderson said: "He got back last night, ate up, and came out fine this morning. The plan is to go for the Christmas Hurdle and it's good to have that race under his belt now.

"I chatted to Willie at Newbury but I don't know what he's going to do. If Faugheen comes he comes and if he doesn't there will still be plenty of opposition."

There was more good news from Nicky Henderson regarding the reigning champion, as Kempton is very unlikely to be the last time we see him before he returns to Cheltenham to defend his crown, since he is a horse who takes plenty of graft.

Asked if that might be it before Cheltenham, Henderson replied: "Oh no, no, no. This fellow wants a lot of work. Although he was on his right weight at Newcastle I'd been frightened he looked too big when he had galloped at Newbury beforehand, but that gallop had the desired effect and he was fit enough to win what was not the strongest of Grade 1s.

"I watched at Newbury with JP and AP and it was fairly painless, which is not always the case when people think you just have to turn up. He was slick and quick and he galloped through sticky ground without it bothering him one iota."

'Deserves a good race'

Ladbroke Trophy runner-up Whisper had a much harder race but has also taken his exertions well. He is now as short as 10-1 for the 32Red King George VI Chase, but Henderson has the hot favourite Might Bite, who beat him twice last year, and is not currently inclined to risk subjecting Whisper to another such defeat.

He said: "It was cruel to be beaten like that in the race that really mattered at a meeting that was a great success from the point of view of the new sponsors Ladbrokes, and a great weekend for us, but it was a great ride and a fantastic performance at the weights from Whisper.

"I spoke to Dai [Walters, owner] about Whisper this morning and he said 'do what you want', but the Cotswold Chase would be more sensible I think, even though Might Bite is such an enigma and we very nearly needed Whisper as back up at Cheltenham in the RSA.

"We beat Whisper ourselves twice last season, which was a bit cruel and he just deserves to win a good race, which I'm sure he will."

Meanwhile, the stable's improving stayer Beware The Bear is now clear favourite in most lists for the Coral Welsh National Grand National and as short as 6-1 in a place after overcoming a slipping saddle to win Newcastle's Rehearsal Chase off a mark of 145, but he is not a certain runner.

Henderson said: "Beware The Bear is a big baby and still has a lot to learn about life. He hardly knows what he's doing yet and the Welsh National is not my favourite race, but he'll stay all right and it's not impossible."

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