Racing:Nicky Henderson has confirmed that Binocular will run in the Smurfit Kappa Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham on Tuesday. Third in the race last year, there had been a doubt about the participation of JP McManus' six-year-old for some time following a couple of below-par efforts this season.
Indeed, he had initially been ruled out of the race by Henderson on February 17th after suffering a muscle problem. But following a pleasing schooling session on Wednesday, he came through a gallop on Friday morning with flying colours.
The recent Sandown scorer will be ridden by Tony McCoy.
Binocular will add a third string to the Champion Hurdle bow of the Seven Barrows handler, who will also be represented by the Barry Geraghty-ridden Punjabi and Zaynar, the mount of Andrew Tinkler.
“We have decided Binocular will run in the Champion Hurdle,” said Henderson.
Binocular could finish only fifth in the Fighting Fifth Hurdle at Newcastle, but showed more promise when third in the Christmas Hurdle at Kempton. He then won a three-runner race at Sandown but connections were not happy in the aftermath and he was ruled out of the Festival.
Having gone back into training last week, Henderson is now satisfied that he should take his chance.
“All three of mine will now run in the Champion,” he added. “Binocular will be ridden by AP (McCoy), Barry (Geraghty) will ride Punjabi and Andrew Tinkler will now ride Zaynar. They are all very well and all three are pleasing me.”