NICKY Henderson secured a record sixth victory in the Stan James Champion Hurdle as Buveur D'Air ran out a brilliant winner under Noel Fehily.

Third behind esteemed stable companion Altior in the Supreme Novices' Hurdle 12 months ago, the JP McManus-owned gelding was initially sent chasing this season.

While he came up with the goods first at Haydock and then at Warwick, Henderson saw an opening in a two-mile hurdling division devoid of the last two champions Faugheen and Annie Power and decided to switch back. It proved a masterstroke.

Having reacquainted himself with hurdles when recording a routine success at Sandown last month, Buveur D'Air was a 5-1 shot to claim the Cheltenham crown.

With Fehily on board for the first time since last season, the six-year-old travelled powerfully and despite one or two minor errors, he was produced with an ominous looking challenge jumping the second flight from the finish.

Having claimed the front-running Petit Mouchoir before the last, Henderson's charge was in front soon enough, but found plenty for pressure to prevail by four and a half lengths.

"Early on I felt I was doing too much and I thought it took me a while to get him switched off," said Fehily.

"He's just a very good horse. It's just fantastic. It was a great performance."

Henderson - who spoke of the "pressure being off" after Altior had landed the Arkle Trophy earlier in the day - said: "He won his two novice chases, but I just knew there was more there over hurdles.

"It was before Faugheen came out of the race that I said we'd go back (over hurdles).

"He's not very flashy at home but you had to feel that there was unfinished business (over hurdles).

"It was a very open race, but I just knew he was a very talented horse.

"I wondered if I'd got it wrong (reverting to hurdles) but it's proved the right thing to do and it's worked on the day."

The admirable My Tent Or Yours was runner-up in the race for the third time, providing both owner and trainer with a one-two.

"You feel sorry for My Tent Or Yours. It's wonderful we've won the Champion Hurdle but that's three Champion Hurdles he's been second in. What else can you say about him? He's just sensational, but the young horse has done it," the Seven Barrows handler added.

When asked about the significance of having broken the Champion Hurdle training record, Henderson said: "It's the horses and the people that make it.

"Of course it's special, but we do it because we love doing it.

"It's just fun. When this sort of thing happens, it's even better fun.

"We'll keep trying."

It was a 50th Festival winner for McManus, who said: "It doesn't get much better than that, the first two in the Champion Hurdle.

"I can't remember exactly what Nicky said but he wanted to go back hurdling before any of the doubts about Faugheen and Annie Power.

"I just let him get on with it, he knows best."