Binocular’s connections set sights on Punchestown
Nicky Henderson’s seven-year-old was a brilliant winner of the Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham last year, but was forced to miss this year’s renewal as there were concerns about medication used to treat an allergy still being in his system.
He returned to action in last week’s Aintree Hurdle, tackling two and a half miles for the first time, but finished a disappointing fourth of seven runners.
Frank Berry, racing manager to owner JP McManus, reports the gelding to be none the worse for those exertions and he could now bid to show his true colours against Hurricane Fly at next month’s Punchestown Festival.
“He came out of the race good and there are no problems with him,” said Berry.
“Nobody can really put their finger on why he didn’t finish his race off so well. He travelled well to the third last, but he was beat from there home.
“Nothing has shown up and he seems in good old form. He jumped well and moved well during the race.
“He’ll have an entry in Punchestown. That’s the plan and we’ll just see how he is.”
Meanwhile, Don’t Push It is reported to be in good form after finishing a fine third in Saturday’s John Smith’s Grand National.
The 11-year-old gave Tony McCoy an emotional triumph in the world’s most famous steeplechase 12 months ago and ran another fantastic race under top weight when trying to defend his title last weekend.
Frank Berry is not ruling out a third tilt at the race for JP McManus’s veteran, but there will be no decision on that for some time yet.
“You’d have to be very proud of him – he ran a stormer,” said Berry.
“He jumped great and you couldn’t make any excuses as he got a great run round.
“AP (McCoy) was happy with everything, he just had a few pounds too much. He was entitled to have that having won the race last year, though.
“He’s run a blinder and he’s come out of it in good form.
“He’ll be a 12-year-old next year, so it won’t be easy if he’s back in a year’s time, but he obviously likes the place.
“We’ll just see what kind of form he’s in nearer the time and take it from there.”
The McManus colours were also carried by mare Bluesea Cracker, who finished 14th on unsuitably fast ground.
James Motherway’s mare won last year’s Irish National at Fairyhouse and there is a chance she may bid for a repeat.
“She didn’t perform badly considering the ground rode as quick as it did,” Berry added.
“She was a little bit on top of her head but she jumped great and maybe she’ll go back next year on a little bit softer ground.
“We’ll give her a week and see about the Irish National. First of all James has to be happy with her and secondly, the ground would have to be soft.”
Tidal Bay could take his chance in Saturday’s Coral Scottish Grand National at Ayr following his early exit at Aintree last weekend.
The 10-year-old only made it as far as the 10th fence in the Grand National when he parted company with his jockey Brian Hughes, and trainer Howard Johnson can hardly believe how well his mercurial talent has taken those exertions.
“I don’t know what to do with him at the moment, but he didn’t really have a race at Aintree,” said Johnson.
“He only got as far as the 10th and he was just lobbing along on the inside when he got rid of Brian. The horse has come back and has been in the field ever since. He’s bucking, kicking and squealing. He’s very well.
“He doesn’t over-exert himself and he has had an easy season. He’s been geared up for the Grand National and it went wrong on me.
“He’s a 10-year-old now and where can he go now? I might be tempted to run him on Saturday.”
Should top-weight Neptune Collonges line up at Ayr this weekend, Tidal Bay will be next on the list with 11st 10lb on his back. If connections decide to give Tidal Bay the green light, the next decision to be made will be whether to claim weight off the veteran with a conditional jockey.
“I’d have to talk to the owner, Graham Wylie, about that,” Johnson added.
“The race will declare on Thursday, so we’ll have to decide what we’re going to do by then.
“If Paul Nicholls runs the top horse, we'll be next in the weights and I’ll have to see what Graham wants to do.”
