---
title: "Buveur D’Air successfully defends Champion Hurdle"
canonical: "https://readhorseracing.com/2018/03/13/buveur-dair-successfully-defends-champion-hurdle/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Sam Brown"
section: "News"
published: "2018-03-13T15:53:38Z"
modified: "2018-03-13T15:53:38Z"
---

# Buveur D’Air successfully defends Champion Hurdle

Buveur D’Air has won the Unibet Champion Hurdle for the second year in a row.

The Nicky Henderson-horse just held off a challenge by Melon inside the final furlong, and took the Grade One and main event of Champions’ Day once again.

Barry Geraghty topped the horse that went off as a big favourite, and guided the horse round Prestbury Park masterfully.

![Dan Mullan/Getty Images Sport](https://media.readhorseracing.com/readhorseracing/2018/03/931425068.jpg)

As Faugheen looked to be a front-runner throughout the majority of the race, Ruby Walsh faded badly in between the penultimate jump and the final jump.

A French horse, Buveur D’Air was bought by J P McManus at the conclusion of the 2016 season, and since has been in the hands of the immensely successful Henderson.

The seven-year-old hasn’t failed to win a race since mid-2016, and is now commanding a list of ten consecutive wins.

Buveur D’Air becomes the fifteenth horse in history to defend a race at Cheltenham.