NOEL’S UP FOR A D’AIR
NOEL FEHILY will be reunited with Buveur D’Air in the Stan James Champion Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival.
The Irishman will also team up with Unowhatimeanharry in the Sun Bet Stayers’ Hurdle.
Fehily was ever present in the saddle during the Nicky Henderson-trained Buveur D’Air’s novice campaign over hurdles last season.
And he also steered Harry Fry’s Unowhatimeanharry to four consecutive wins, including a success in the Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle 12 months ago.
Fehilhy lost the rides on both horses after they were snapped up by JP McManus but with retained rider Barry Geraghty sidelined by injury, Fehily has been called up once again.
McManus’s racing manager Frank Berry said: “Noel knows both horses well so it makes sense for him to ride them.”
Buveur D’Air is set to be one of three McManus representatives in the Champion Hurdle with Mark Walsh booked to ride Alan King’s Yanworth and Aidan Coleman set to partner Henderson’s My Tent Or Yours.
Unowhatimeanharry looks to be joined by Jessica Harrington’s 2014 Champion Hurdle hero Jezki in the Stayers’ Hurdle with Walsh set to get the leg-up on the latter.
McManus has also finalised riding plans for his Timico Gold Cup contenders with Walsh on More Of That and Coleman aboard Minella Rocco.
Berry said: “Those are the plans at the minute, subject to everyone staying in one piece.”
Meanwhile, champion jockey Richard Johnson will ride A Hare Breath for Ben Pauling in the Racing Post Arkle Trophy at the Festival next week.
With Pauling’s two go to jockeys – Nico de Boinville and David Bass – riding Altior and Charbel respectively, Pauling has gone for the best available.
A Hare Breath won his first novice chase at Bangor but finished a poor third to Forest Bihan and Cloudy Dream at Doncaster’s Sky Bet Lightning Novices’ Chase last January.
Johnson said: “On Tuesday morning I’m riding out at Ben Pauling’s yard as I’m going to be on his A Hare Breath in the Arkle.
“I haven’t ridden him before but he’s a nice ride to pick up.
“It’s going to be very hard to beat Altior but the race could cut up. If it does he has a great chance of finishing in the places.
“David Bass and Nico de Boinville, who normally ride for Ben Pauling, are set to be on Charbel and Altior.”