The 2017 and 2018 Champion Hurdle hero had to settle for second best in the Grade Two behind the Donald McCain-trained five year-old on his first start in 420 days.

Having travelled well and into contention it looked a case of when the 8-11 favourite, who had not been sighted since sustaining a hoof injury in the 2019 Fighting Fifth Hurdle at Newcastle, would pick up the early pacesetter on the run down the last.

It was not to be however for Buveur D’Air, who was ridden by Nico de Boinville for the first time, with Navajo Pass continuing to find plenty for pressure to pass the post with four and a quarter lengths in hand.

Henderson said: “You have to say of course you are disappointed but he set a really good gallop and they were going as fast as they could behind him. He felt as if he was going to get there comfortably but then when he has got to the last he has had a big blow.

“The ground is not for him but he has done well. His jumping was as good as ever. He is so slick and quick. He jumped every hurdle like he always used to. I expect him to come on hugely. They’ve gone a good gallop in that ground and it has found him out, but he has run a solid race.

“He will definitely go for the Champion Hurdle and he wouldn’t run before it. I think to get out today rather than wait for Sandown, which was the original plan, gives you more time to work with it. You get that under him now and we’ve got time to work away.

“I'm disappointed that he's been beaten - of course you want to win and win on the bridle - but it was hardly ever going to happen in that ground, and it's been touch and go all week.

"I think they've done well to race to be honest with you; it was perfectly race-able otherwise I wouldn't have run, but it was very, very testing.

"If anything it's probably got more testing throughout the afternoon, but neither he nor Ballyandy could have gone any quicker. The winner was out-pacing them early on, and if he likes the ground, fair play to him.

"I do (think the old Buveur d'Air is in there), and he was bound to need it today. He looked big to me, the scales were saying that he's lighter than he looks, but he does look big, and he needed to go and do something like that.

"He couldn't have done much more than we have done without running him, and I'm pleased we have here. I'd have preferred a different result, but it's one we have to take, and we know what we've got to do.

"He pulled up sound and everything is right; there are no cuts or bumps or pieces of wood sticking out. He'll be tired tonight, there's no doubt about that."

Though victory for Navajo Pass would have been a surprise to some it was a result that was less of a shock for Grand National winning trainer Donald McCain.

He said: “He is going to be a real smart horse. This season is a season where they get lost a bit as it is his first season out of juveniles and it is tough. We’ve been going to handicaps with huge weights and taking them on. If you look today he is taking on two horses that are twice his age and it is hard.

“We knew he was fit, we knew he jumped and we knew he was in good nick after winning up at Musselburgh. I spoke to Tim and he said we will go and take a punt and see. If they float past us then fine but we will make it a test and see what happens.

“We went to Musselburgh to try and win a race with him and we came here as before the Festivals there was no where to go at all.”

Assessing future plans McCain favours stepping Navajo Pass back up to Grade One in the Aintree Hurdle, rather than tackling the Champion Hurdle at The Festival, which he would need supplementing for.

He added: “I don’t think he has the natural speed for a Champion Hurdle. Twelve months down the line he might get quicker but I will speak to Tim.

First thoughts were he would probably be more suited to Aintree, if anywhere.

“I know Tim likes Aintree and we love Aintree but we will just enjoy today for now. He is next year’s horse and I can’t emphasise that enough.”