Binocular defends Christmas crown

A SMALL but select field of five will go to post for the williamhill.com Christmas Hurdle at Kempton on Monday, with last season’s winner Binocular looking to repair his reputation.

Nicky Henderson’s seven-year-old beat Overturn by nearly four lengths in the rearranged event in January, but Donald McCain’s admirable dual purpose performer turned those tables in no uncertain terms in the Fighting Fifth at Newbury.

Overturn has been riding the crest of a wave since the corresponding race last season, winning the Chester Cup on the level, the Scottish Summer Champion Hurdle at Perth, the Ascot Hurdle and the Fighting Fifth.