BUVEUR D’Air was made to pull out all the stops to successfully defend his crown in the Unibet Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham.

Nicky Henderson’s charge had sauntered to success on his previous three starts this season and was the 4-6 favourite to become the first horse to win back-to-back renewals of the race since Hardy Eustace in 2004 and 2005.

The winner’s stablemate Charli Parcs was ridden forcefully, challenging 2015 Champion Hurdle hero Faugheen for the lead for much of the two-mile journey.

In the end it was Faugheen’s stablemate Melon who proved the biggest threat to the reigning champion.

There was little to choose between the pair jumping the final flight and both fought tooth and nail all the way up the hill, but it was Buveur D’Air and Barry Geraghty who emerged victorious by a neck. Mick Jazz was third.

Lambourn trainer Henderson said: “He was tough and what a great race.

“They’ve gone a gallop there you wouldn’t believe they would keep up in that ground and they have quickened again all the way up the hill.

“Two very brave horses and two great jockeys - I’m sure we got headed at the last and he was brave to come back.

“He had a battle on his hands and in a funny way that’s the first race he’s had this year. It’s just been in the back of my mind and has always worried me.

“That was the first time he’s had to put his head down and fight.”

Geraghty, who had to miss last year’s Festival through injury, said: “He won it the hard way, he battled hard.

“I tried to save as much as I could on the turn in and go for him as late as possible and he found when it was needed.’’ He added: “He’s very good - you don’t win them back to back unless you are very good. He’s a top-class horse.

“I missed last season and it’s nice to ride a big winner for the boss (owner JP McManus) and doubly to do it for Nicky.

“It was a long year last year, but I’ve had great years here so I can’t complain.”

Henderson, whose stable stalwart My Tent Or Yours missed the Champion Hurdle on veterinary advice, has announced Altior will run in Wednesday’s Betway Queen Mother Champion Chase.

The star eight-year-old is hot favourite for the two-mile championship, but was reported to be lame on Monday morning, although overnight treatment appears to have worked.