Binocular connections eye winning return
The seven-year-old has been beaten at odds-on in the last two renewals of the Stanjames.com Fighting Fifth Hurdle, although he was far from disgraced when third behind Peddlers Cross when the race was rerouted to Newbury 12 months ago.
He followed that up with a brilliant display in the Christmas Hurdle at Kempton and a routine win at Sandown, but had to miss the Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham and failed to sparkle at Aintree and Punchestown subsequently.
“He ran a very good race in what was the Fighting Fifth run at Newbury last year, then he won the Christmas Hurdle and he was impressive, then he won at Sandown and was unimpressive. Then he finished on an upside down note altogether,” Henderson told At The Races.
“I just get the feeling he’s leaner and meaner. He’s probably no lighter but he’s always looked that way since he came in. We were genuinely delighted with him on the day in the Fighting Fifth last year, even though he was beaten, and that put him right for the Christmas Hurdle where he was very impressive and we never thought Kempton was his track.
“This isn’t the Champion Hurdle on Saturday, but it’s a very important day from my point of view and Binocular’s.”
The betting suggests the Paul Nicholls-trained Celestial Halo could give the hot favourite most to think about.
While Binocular has not been seen since May, Celestial Halo is race-fit having won Wincanton’s Elite Hurdle and his owner Andy Stewart believes this could prove crucial.
