Henderson unveils Champion plans
The Seven Barrows trainer outlined his plans for Binocular, Grandouet and Spirit Son at Cheltenham on New Year’s Day.
He said: “Spirit Son worked very well on Saturday and is about three weeks off a run. I think the old Agfa Hurdle could be the race for him ahead of Cheltenham.
“For obvious reasons we won’t be taking Binocular to Sandown and I’ve yet to decide where he’ll go. It’s possible he could run in Ireland.
“The Kingwell at Wincanton looks the right trial for Grandouet. All three of them are in very good order.”
Henrietta Knight has revised her initial plan of going for the Gold Cup with Somerby following his creditable fourth to Kauto Star in the King George VI Chase.
The Lockinge trainer said: “I think the distance of the Ryanair Chase is the right one for him.”
* Tony McCoy will have a “quiet week” at home as he continues to recover from the injuries he sustained in a fall at Taunton on Friday.
The perennial champion jockey broke his ribs when the Nicky Henderson-trained Laudatory came to grief at the last in the Steve Logan Memorial County Contractors Handicap Hurdle.
