Buveur D’air’s freak injury leaves season ‘a grey area’

Nicky Henderson is hopeful Buveur D’air will make a full recovery from the injury he picked up in the Fighting Fifth Hurdle but whether he runs again this season is a “grey area”.

The two-time Champion Hurdle winner made a blunder at the second-last flight in hisdefeattocornerstonelad at Newcastle on Saturday.

A piece of wood from the hurdle became wedged in his hoof, and he finished lame, with Barry Geraghty dismounting after the line.

“The injury was so freakish you’d think it was impossible to even do it,” Henderson said.

“A wedge of wood went into his coronary band, right underneath the hoof. I’ve spoken to AP (Mccoy), who is at the surgery, and I’m going down soon. In simple terms it’s like a very large splinter underneath your nail, and it is very sore.

“Nowitisamatterofgetting the piece of wood out from under the hoof – but they will have to open the hoof to let it out, it’s the only way.

“They are hopeful they can do it without a general anaesthetic, and then – all going well – it is a matter of how long it takes to grow the hoof back over, which will undoubtedly be some considerable time.”

While hopes are high of a full recovery, Henderson cannot put a timescale on a return to action.

He added: “Nobody is even talking about when we might see him next – all that is being talked about is making him more comfortable, eliminate the pain, but he’s in the best place.

“If all goes well for the next 24 hours then I think we are through the worst, and then we can concentrate on getting the hoof to grow back, but there will be a hole which will take time to heal.

“I think this season is going to be a grey area, and we probably won’t know for another fortnight.”