Binocular sets sights on Christmas repeat
Henderson is not giving up on 2010 Champion Hurdle hero Binocular, even though he faltered last season after an impressive success in the Kempton Grade One and has now suffered three consecutive defeats in the Fighting Fifth Hurdle. In this year’s renewal, held at Newcastle last week, he could never get a handle on Overturn, and was beaten by four and a half lengths.
“He’s in the exactly the same position as last year,” said Henderson.
“He was a bit flat at Newcastle but he has come back really well and Overturn is a hard horse to pass.
“He’s OK, and he was very good at Kempton last year. Overturn is very good, but he’s at the top of his game and I can’t see that there is a lot more to come from him. There’s a long way to go.”
Oscar Whisky, who fell at the last when alongside Overturn in the Ascot Hurdle, is a possibility for the Relkeel at Cheltenham, while another to be bound for Prestbury Park is Grandouet.
Last season’s Triumph Hurdle third and Punchestown Festival winner bounced back from a fall on his reappearance at Wincanton by running away with a minor event at Haydock last time.
“He’s going to run in the International at Cheltenham,” the trainer said.
“He was impressive at Haydock and impressive at Punchestown and I’d just like to give him another look at Cheltenham to make sure it’s the right place to go.”
Spirit Son, second to Al Ferof in the Supreme and an impressive winner at Aintree, is not out of the equation either.
Henderson explained that Michael Buckley’s gelding would not be running in the Christmas Hurdle, but said: “I think I’d concentrate on the Champion Hurdle instead. He’s that good.”
