Nicky Henderson toasts 'special' Buveur D'Air as Champion Hurdle hero is retired

Nicky Henderson has called dual Champion Hurdle hero Buveur D'Air "a real friend and a very special horse" after it was revealed connections have called time on the top-class hurdler's career.

A winner of no fewer than eight Grade 1s for the master of Seven Barrows, JP McManus's star performer bows out at the age of 11 after connections decided against pursuing another campaign this season.

His final appearance came when finishing down the field in last season's Morebattle Hurdle following an 11-month absence, but the ultra-slick jumper will be best remembered for his back-to-back Champion Hurdle triumphs in 2017 and 2018.

Rated 172 at his peak, the French recruit also won two consecutive runnings of the Fighting Fifth Hurdle, while further top-level successes came in the Top Novices' Hurdle, Aintree Hurdle, Christmas Hurdle and Punchestown Champion Hurdle.

Buveur D'Air: landed back-to-back Champion Hurdles for JP McManus in 2017 and 2018Credit: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos)

In his early days at Seven Barrows he carried the colours of Potensis Bloodstock Ltd and Chris Giles, but he was sold to join McManus ahead of the 2016-17 season.

Henderson told the Racing Post: "He was a real friend and a very special horse. A joy to have around the place. We've been so lucky that the Champion Hurdle has been quite good for us, but he was a horse of a lifetime, really. He was a beautiful horse, too.

"He's on his way back to Martinstown to join the likes of Istabraq and Binocular so I'm sure they'll be able to tell a few stories between themselves about winning Champion Hurdles. It's fantastic that JP has collected and keeps all those brilliant horses."

He added: "Unfortunately that piece of wood that got stuck in his hoof in the 2019 Fighting Fifth didn't make matters straightforward. The picture from Newcastle that day tells the story. We had to take the whole front of his hoof off to get all the bits of debris out.

"After getting back on track, he still managed to run a hell of a race in the Aintree Hurdle last year when he possibly could have even won, but unfortunately that foot never fully got back to its best. He was a very, very good horse, though."

A piece of wood is visible in Buveur D'Air's foot after the second-last in the Fighting FifthCredit: John Grossick (racingpost.com/photos)

Barry Geraghty, responsible for eight victories aboard Buveur D'Air, described him as "the fastest horse I've ever ridden over a hurdle", while also praising his consistency.

"He was a brilliant horse and we were blessed to have some great days with him," said Geraghty.

"I missed his first Champion Hurdle through injury but got back on him for the following year at Cheltenham. Everywhere he went, he was so consistent with a great attitude."

Geraghty added: "He was the fastest horse I've ever ridden over a hurdle, so quick and slick. He was like lightning. You wouldn't even know you left the ground on him. It was unbelievable speed but so measured. He could be inch perfect."

McManus's racing manager Frank Berry says Henderson's team deserve huge credit for managing Buveur D'Air's career, and believes now is the right time for the gelding by Crillon to retire.

Berry said: "He's been a fantastic horse – it's hard to find the likes of him. His two Champion Hurdles were brilliant but we had some great days with him.

"Nicky and his team did a wonderful job with him over the years. All credit to them for keeping him sound and keeping him going."

Nicky Henderson: singled out Buveur D'Air's swift jumping as a key weapon in his armouryCredit: Edward Whitaker

Berry added: "He's going to have a good retirement. He'll have good companions down in Martinstown when it comes to Champion Hurdle winners.

"He just had a few little issues and wasn't quite firing on all cylinders so it looked like a good time for him to retire now rather than start him back for the winter."

Henderson's eight wins in the Champion Hurdle makes him the race's most successful trainer of all time, and he singled out Buveur D'Air's swift jumping as a key factor in what made him so prolific.

"It's the secret to all those top two-mile hurdlers at the back of it all – how quick they can fly over their hurdles," said Henderson.

"Binocular and See You Then were the same. The common denominator between them was that they could cross a hurdle like an arrow. They were absolutely brilliant."

Buveur D'Air and Melon are locked together over the last in the 2018 Champion HurdleCredit: Edward Whitaker

He added: "It could easily have been three Champion Hurdles but for the year he came down. That's always the danger of hurdling their way. The margin for error is so minimal because of their need for pin-point accuracy.

"They cross their hurdles so fast and low that missing by an inch can lead to a fall. Buveur D'Air was so fast through the air.

"He was also unbeaten in his only two starts over fences, and we only took him away from that because we had Altior at the time going novice chasing, while not having any horse for the Champion Hurdle.

"He wasn't going to beat Altior over fences then so it didn't require massive brain power to make that move. Thankfully it worked out."

Buveur D'Air won 17 of his 27 career starts, amassing just over £1.2 million in prize-money.

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Buveur D'Air at his best: five highlights from the superstar hurdler's career

'JP McManus has been a huge support – it's nice to land him a payday like that'

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