THE 2018 Champion Hurdle is already setting pulses racing, while we might well have a full dress rehearsal at Kempton over Christmas. Nicky Henderson sent JP McManus’ reigning champion Buveur D’Air to Newcastle at the weekend, just days after Faugheen made a hugely impressive return to action at Punchestown.

Buveur D’Air duly landed the Grade 1 Unibet Fighting Fifth Hurdle, adding to his many previous Grade 1 successes. They included this year’s Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham and the Aintree Hurdle at Liverpool. He has only been beaten three times in his 14-race career, twice in bumpers and just once over hurdles, when he was third in the 2016 Champion Hurdle. He was also unbeaten in two starts over fences before reverting to hurdles and gaining his biggest career successes.

Bred in France by Gérard Ferté, Buveur D’Air is one of a pair of Grade 1 winners produced by his dam, History, a daughter of Alesso (Alleged). She was a poor racemare, managing to be placed once on the flat and also being tried over jumps in her native France. She has more than made up for any lack of racing ability as a broodmare.

Buveur D’Air is the last of just five foals she produced and four of them won – all of her geldings. Previously she bred Punchestowns (Morespeed) who was a Grade 1 winning hurdler and chaser for Nicky Henderson also. He captured the Long Walk Hurdle at Ascot and the Scilly Isles Novices’ Chase at Sandown and was the first foal bred by History.

History was the only offspring of her dam, Clair Deus Lune (Altayan), who was placed. She had three winning siblings and two of them were above average. Darjeeling III (Quart de Vin) won seven times over jumps in France and his biggest success came in the three-mile, one-furlong Listed Grand Prix de Pau Chase.

Two years after Darjeeling III was foaled, along came Fujiyama (Lute Antique) and he too amassed seven victories over jumps in France. He stayed even farther and his biggest win was in the Listed Prix Nicolas Feuillate Cross Country Chase at Craon, over a marathon three miles and six furlongs.

Buveur D’Air is one of two Grade 1 winners for his sire, joining Alex De Larnedya. The 21-year-old Crillon stood this year for €6,000 at Haras de la Baie. He was a listed winner in France and ran second to Montjeu in the Group 2 Prix Foy. He won six races, until the age of seven, and went to stud in 2004. His sire, Saumarez (Rainbow Quest), won the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe.

Breeders, stallion masters and readers are invited to contact Leo Powell at leopowell@theirishfield.ie with news and updates for the column, and to visit our website www.theirishfield.ie for daily breeding news