Weather worry for Binocular
A cold snap is particularly forecast in the north east, but Henderson dearly wants to get the JP McManus-owned gelding back in action in the StanJames.com Fighting Fifth Hurdle.
The six-year-old enjoyed a torrid first half to the last campaign that included an odds-on reverse in this race.
But he signed off the season with a brilliant display at the Cheltenham Festival and he looks sure to be a hot favourite at Gosforth Park once again after just seven were left in the race at the five-day stage.
“I’m frightened about the weather – it looks horrible. I talked to JP before lunch and Plan B would be to go to Cheltenham (for the International Hurdle on December 11), but that’s too close to the Christmas Hurdle,” said the Seven Barrows handler.
“The Fighting Fifth is in the Pattern and hopefully they would reschedule it the following week.”
The entire track at Newcastle is to be covered in a bid to minimise the threat of frost.
Weather permitting, Binocular’s biggest rival could be the Donald McCain-trained Peddlers Cross, who is unbeaten. “I gave him a couple of canters on Sunday morning. He seems in great form,” his regular rider Jason Maguire said.
“Adrian Lane schooled him the other day and I’m looking forward to it.
“He looks to have got stronger and everything. You never know, but we’ll go and find out on Saturday.’’
Meanwhile Paul Nicholls is keen to go down the Champion Hurdle route with Silviniaco Conti following his devastating performance in Saturday’s Coral Hurdle at Ascot.
The French import may still be a novice, but he took the step up to open company in his stride, seeing off the likes of Karabak and last year’s winner Zaynar in style.
The champion trainer admits he was shocked by the performance but he is now keen to let him have a crack at the StanJames.com International Hurdle at Cheltenham on December 11 to find out if he is a realistic Champion Hurdle contender.
Speaking in his column on www.betfair.com, he said: “I was astounded by Silviniaco Conti’s win at Ascot on Saturday — in fact, I got up at 5am this morning to watch the race again to make sure I wasn’t seeing things!
“I don’t think that I have ever had a horse that has surprised me so much in such a short space of time.
“I tweeted on the way back from Aintree on Sunday that I was considering going for the International at Cheltenham next month – and I can reveal, that all being well, that is where he will go next.
“I have to give him a chance to stake a Champion Hurdle claim after Saturday’s win.
“What impressed me most was the supreme ease with which he travelled at Ascot and Noel said to me that he hasn’t even had a slap yet.
“So I said: ”Keep that until March!”
