Byrnes wary of Binocular threat

CHARLES BYRNES fears Binocular will be a major stumbling block to Solwhit, who is unbeaten in 2009 and is fresh from claiming the scalps of Muirhead and Hurricane Fly in the Punchestown Hurdle two weeks ago, in the WBX.COM Fighting Fifth Hurdle at Newcastle today.

But Byrnes, whose runner defeated reigning two-mile king Punjabi in May, admits to only being hopeful of the five-year-old maintaining his good run on Tyneside.

“It’s obviously a very good race. I’d be very fearful of Binocular. If he can produce his first run from last year I think he will be very hard to beat,” said the Co Limerick trainer.