Binocular unlikely to take Kingwell chance

Binocular is more likely to have a racecourse gallop at Newbury than run in the Bathwick Tyres Kingwell Hurdle at Wincanton on Saturday, despite appearing among the eight entries.

A decision appeared to have been made to send the 2010 champion hurdler straight to Cheltenham, but Nicky Henderson surprised many by entering the eight-year-old this weekend.

However, Henderson has always had this race as a target from Grandouet and he reaffirmed that Simon Munir’s five-year-old was still his first choice for the race.

“Grandouet goes to the Kingwell, Binocular will probably have a racecourse gallop at Newbury instead,” said Henderson.

Celestial Halo is likely to prove Grandouet’s biggest threat.

Paul Nicholls’ former Triumph Hurdle winner benefited from the second-last flight fall of Grandouet in the Elite Hurdle at this track back in November.

Celestial Halo has since won a handicap at Newbury off top weight and the Champion Hurdle Trial at Haydock.

Donald McCain’s Desert Cry was just behind Celestial Halo at Haydock and takes him on again.

Starluck could have his first start since joining David Arbuthnot after his first original target, the Welsh Champion Hurdle, was frozen off.

Rebecca Curtis has entered Nearby while Evan Williams could run Lucaindubai. Tim Vaughan has entered Mon Desir, who was trained by Eoghan O’Neill on the Flat in France.