When you look at horse racing this season, there has been several key performances looking ahead to the 2019 Cheltenham festival. Nicky Henderson already looks to hold all the aces with a stable full of stars, headlined by Altior and Buveur D’Air. Prior to the current campaign there was still questions being asked of the pair despite their recent dominance. Both have returned and put in faultless displays and now look bankers for the 2019 festival. Here we cover the chances of both of defending their crowns at the Cheltenham festival.
Buveur D’Air
The two time defending champion hurdler has not tasted defeat since his running on third in the 2016 Supreme Novices. With Altior winning that day it further cements that race as one of the greatest Supremes’ ever ran. Buveur D’Air has continued to not get the plaudits he deserves, with people believing the current crop are below par. This maybe the case, but if he now goes and lands the odds, there is little doubt he must go down as a great, as a three time defending champion hurdler. This meant he would equal his owners, Istabraq.
Buveur D’Air returned to take on a rising star in Samcro, with the Irish horse amazingly being gambled into favouritism. Despite this he travelled ominously well behind, before taking the race up on the bridle to win by eight lengths. This was a stunning performance and one that now means he cannot be opposed looking ahead to the 2019 festival.
Buveur D’Air over hurdles: 1131/111/1111-1 pic.twitter.com/UpF21tJegU
— At The Races (@AtTheRaces) December 2, 2018
Altior
The current star of national hunt racing is Altior. He has been so dominant since going over obstacles, in which he has remained unbeaten. This now stems for three seasons, that has included a run of 14 victorious ahead of this season. Altior returned most recently in the Tingle Creek at Sandown, against a field stacked with talent including the tough and reliable, Un de Sceaux. It was a dual between the pair from the off as they jumped the last as one, before Altior powered clear to win by four lengths.
Altior is such a tough and reliable operator and is without a doubt going to go down as one of the greatest the sport has ever seen. All roads now lead to defending his crown in the Champion Chase at the 2019 festival. If he remains fit then he goes in as the banker of the meeting and cannot be opposed.
What a battle!
Altior wins the Betfair Tingle Creek Chase at @Sandownpark from Un De Sceaux! pic.twitter.com/EA6HEl86GD
— ITV Racing (@itvracing) December 8, 2018
