Binocular primed for Champion battle

Nicky Henderson reports Binocular to be fighting fit ahead of his bid to regain the Stan James Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham in a fortnight’s time.

The 2010 winner was unable to defend his crown 12 months ago and struggled to regain his best form when he returned to action last spring and earlier this season.

However, he has shown glimpses of a renaissance with victories in the Christmas and Kingwell Hurdles on his last two starts.

That progress appears to be continuing with his trainer delighted with his well-being ahead of taking on last year’s brilliant winner Hurricane Fly.

But Binocular will be Henderson’s only representative after Spirit Son and Grandouet have both been sidelined.

“Hurricane Fly came out on top of the pile by quite a long way last year and I’d like a phalanx of horses to run against him but we’re down to one,” said Henderson.

“At least he seems to come in there probably as well as when he won the Champion Hurdle.

“He looks really well, he just looks like a good racehorse.”

Long Run had his first workout since his victory at Newbury two weeks ago as the countdown begins to his defence of the Betfred Cheltenham Gold Cup.

The seven-year-old will also have a schooling session with jumping guru Yogi Breisner next week.

“He came out of Newbury well and did his first bit of work this morning,” said the Seven Barrows handler.

“He’ll have one session with Yogi Breisner next week and won’t see a fence between now and then.

“He’ll wear earplugs in the parade (at Cheltenham) and they will come out at the start.”

Henderson admitted the Festival target for exciting novice Simonsig has still to be decided.

The six-year-old grey enhanced his prospects with an impressive victory in the Morebattle Hurdle at Kelso, but shed little light on whether he should run in the William Hill Supreme Novices Hurdle over an extended two miles or the two-mile-five-furlong Neptune Investment Management Novices’ Hurdle.

“I had a long chat with Simonsig’s owner and we went from one race to another,” said Henderson. “I don’t know yet, it’s a matter of deciding which is the right race for him.”