The bad injury to Buveur D’Air has highlighted the need for safer hurdles which are set to be rolled out in a ‘couple of years’
The large splinter of wood from the second-last hurdle which became embedded in Buveur D’Air’s hoof during the Fighting Fifth Hurdle at Newcastle on Saturday probably cost him the race and may well see him ruled out for the remainder of the jumps season.
And yet, birch hurdles of the type which injured the dual Champion Hurdle winner are likely to be a feature of British (and Irish) jumping for several years yet, despite the padded alternative having been successfully trialled as long ago as 2013.
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