By Marcus Townend for the Daily Mail
Published: 00:37 GMT, 7 March 2019 | Updated: 00:37 GMT, 7 March 2019
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Trainer Nicky Henderson says he is not expecting mare Verdana Blue to confirm the form of her Christmas Hurdle defeat of odds-on favourite and stablemate Buveur D'Air when the pair clash in next Tuesday's Champion Hurdle.
But he does think his mare can finish in the first three.
Fourteen horses were declared for the feature race of the opening day of the meeting at Wednesday's penultimate forfeit stage.
Nicky Henderson has Verdana Blue and Buveur D'Air in next Tuesday's Champion Hurdle
Dual Champion Hurder Buveur D'Air will have to give 7lb to Verdana Blue and Irish trained mares Apple's Jade and Laurina.
Henderson said: 'Verdana Blue did well to beat Buveur D'Air at Kempton, but that is unlikely to be repeated.
