Buveur D’Air regains his winning touch

Buveur D’Air has bounced back from the disappointment of a Cheltenham Festival fall to slam his rivals in a strong renewal of the Punchestown Champion Hurdle. Sent off the 2-1 joint favourite with Apple’s Jade, the two-time Champion Hurdler travelled powerfully under substitute jockey Davy russell before swiftly asserting his authority in the straight to score by two-anda-half lengths from Supasundae. Trainer Nicky Henderson said: ‘He was back to his best there and showed what he can do.’ russell was a late recruit for Buveur D’Air, replacing the unfortunate Mark Walsh, who suffered a suspected fracture to his right ankle when Scoir Mear was brought down in the earlier novice handicap chase.