BINOCULAR FACES just four rivals as he bids to get back on the winning track in tomorrow’s Stanjames.com Fighting Fifth Hurdle at Newcastle.

The 2010 Champion Hurdle winner has been beaten at odds-on in the last two renewals of this Grade One prize and having missed the Cheltenham Festival back in March, he failed to make an impact at Aintree and Punchestown subsequently.

He is likely to be given a thorough examination at Gosforth Park, with superb dual-purpose performer Overturn lining up just a week after landing the Coral Hurdle at Ascot for Donald McCain.

The third serious contender is the Paul Nicholls-trained Celestial Halo, who won the Elite Hurdle at Wincanton on his seasonal return, albeit in slightly fortuitous circumstances.

Kosta Brava and Stormy Weather complete the field and both will be big outsiders.

Overturn’s rider Jason Maguire has a busy afternoon in store as he flies to Newcastle after riding Peddlers Cross in his second novice chase at Bangor earlier in the day.

He said: “I’m delighted to be going to both meetings.

“Overturn won well last Saturday. Who knows what the result would have been (Oscar Whisky fell at final flight), but he’s a very tough little horse and he wouldn’t have given up in the straight.

“I’ve seen him out this morning and he looks great. Fingers crossed he’s okay to go into battle on Saturday.

“He loves to go and take on his hurdles and he jumps well. There’ll be no hiding place.

Meanwhile, Noel Meade has yet to finalise plans for his impressive team of novice hurdlers.

Il Fenomeno beat his stablemate Dylan Ross in a Grade Three event at Navan earlier this month, a result which the trainer admits surprised him.

Both horses are possible runners in the Bar One Racing Royal Bond Novice Hurdle at Fairyhouse on December 4th.

“I actually thought Dylan Ross would win on the day but there you go. I knew there wasn’t much between them,” said Meade.

“I’d say Il Fenomeno will run in the Royal Bond and Dylan Ross could go there as well, but we haven’t made any definite plans.”

Jockey Andrew Tinkler faces a spell on the sidelines after breaking a bone in a hand at Newbury yesterday. Tinkler took a fall from Kingsmere at the first flight of the CSP Novices’ Handicap Hurdle.