It is the time to D’Air for Buveur
7-1 Tracked leaders, went 2nd and stayed on inside final furlong, not quite pace to reach winner, 2nd of 10, 1/2l behind Red Verdon at Kempton 1m 4f Listed stks (1) pol in Nov. 5-2 Dwelt close up in 4th, ridden 2f out, went 3rd inside final furlong, not trouble leaders, 3rd of 4, 1 3/4l behind Toast Of New York at Lingfield 1m 2f stks (3yo+) (2) pol. 7-4fav Tracked leaders, ridden to chase winner over 1f out, soon hung left, no impression, 2nd of 4, 1l behind Toast Of New York at Lingfield 1m 2f stks (3yo+) (2) pol. 8th of 16, 4 1/2l behind Astral Merit at Deauville(FR) 1m 1f Listed stks fbs in Nov. 16-1 Slowly away in rear, effort on inner approaching final furlong, no impression inside final furlong, 6th of 9, 5l behind Master The World at Lingfield 1m 2f Listed stks (1) pol in Nov. 50-1 Raced near side, chased leaders, led group 2f out and overall, came clear in group inside final furlong, ran on well, won at Newmarket 1m 1f hcp (2) gs in Sep beating Sands Chorus by 1 1/2l, 34 ran. 20-1 Restless in stalls, took keen hold towards rear, some headway over 1f out, never troubled leaders, 5th of 10, 4l behind Red Verdon at Kempton 1m 4f Listed stks (1) pol in Nov. 2nd of 7, 3 1/2l behind Anda Muchacho at San Siro(ITY) 1m 1f Grp 3 (1) in Oct. 50-1 Close up, ridden to chase leader briefly approaching final furlong, stayed on one pace, 3rd of 9, 2 1/2l behind Master The World at Lingfield 1m 2f Listed stks (1) pol in Nov. BUVEUR D’Air heads just six possibles for the Unibet Christmas Hurdle at Kempton on Boxing Day after the race was re-opened due to insufficient entries.
This has been the target for the Champion Hurdle hero since he made a successful reappearance in the Fighting Fifth at Newcastle to take his winning spree to seven.
Nicky Henderson’s charge could be taken on by Nigel TwistonDavies’ evergreen The New One, Paul Nicholls’ stalwart Old Guard and Mohaayed from Dan Skelton’s yard.
The other two possibles, Elgin and Chesterfield, have been declared for Saturday’s Racing Welfare Handicap Hurdle at Ascot .
Vicente is at the head of the weights after 33 horses stood their ground for the Coral Welsh Grand National at the confirmation stage.
With five horses above him taken out of the Chepstow marathon, the Paul Nicholls-trained Scottish National hero will shoulder the welter burden off 11st 12lb if taking up his entry next Wednesday.
Others towards the top of the field include Anthony Honeyball’s Regal Encore, the Philip Hobbstrained Rock The Kasbah and Fergal O’Brien’s runaway Haydock victor Chase The Spud.
Ante-post lists are headed by Nicky Henderson’s Beware The Bear (11st 6lb), while other well fancied horses include the David Dennis-trained Final Nudge (11st 6lb) and Jack Barber’s Ask The Weatherman (10st 13lb).
The Irish challenge is headed by last year’s runner-up Raz De Maree (11st 1lb), trained by Gavin Cromwell. The 12-year-old could be joined on the journey across the Irish Sea by Noel Meade’s Bonny Kate (10st 13lb) and Folsom Blue (10st 12lb) from Gordon Elliott’s yard.
A workout today will decide whether Ami Desbois will take up his engagement in the 32Red Kauto Star Novices’ Chase at Kempton on Boxing Day.
The high-class hurdler has made a fine start to his career over fences this autumn, registering successive wins at Wetherby in November and earlier this month.
Trainer Graeme McPherson feels the time has come to step his stable star up in class and if he does not bid for Grade One glory on Boxing Day he is likely to head to Cheltenham for the Betbright Dipper Novices’ Chase on New Year’s Day.
McPherson said: “He only ran a couple of weeks ago and we’re going to work him in the morning and make a decision then.
“He came out of his last run very well. We ran him on the Saturday and for the four following days we couldn’t do much with any of the horses as we had a lot of snow.
“We couldn’t turn him out in the paddock and he hasn’t had much of a break, so we’ll just have to see how he goes in the morning.
“If he really sparkles then we’ll probably let him take his chance on Boxing Day and if we think he needs a bit more time we’ll go for the Dipper on New Year’s Day.
“He’s in good order and three miles on soft ground (at Kempton) would be perfect for him.”