Champion Hurdle contender will resume career next seasonMcCoy makes confident call about Epatante for the raceBuveur D’Air is making a good recovery from the shocking foot injury he sustained at Newcastle in November and is expected to resume his career in the next jumps season. Nicky Henderson, his trainer, shared the news at his traditional pre-Cheltenham media morning where, had the horse been just a little bit more lucky, he would have been one of the most talked‑about animals and a probable favourite for the Champion Hurdle.
An accident at the second-last obstacle of the Fighting Fifth Hurdle caused Buveur D’Air’s injury and has kept him on the sidelines since. A splinter of wood several inches long became lodged in one of his front hooves after he bashed through the top of the hurdle and remained in place as he took several strides on landing. The pain is believed to have contributed to his shock defeat at odds of 2-13 that day.