Binocular is in top form ahead of his Christmas Hurdle bid according to owner JP McManus’ racing manager Frank Berry.
The champion hurdler failed to fire in the rerouted Fighting Fifth Hurdle at Newbury in November but he is reported to be in good shape ahead of his next start at Kempton on January 15.
“He’s in good form and Nicky (Henderson) couldn’t be happier with him,” Berry told skysports.com.
The seven-year-old was originally pencilled in to run in both the Christmas Hurdle at Kempton and the Contenders Hurdle at Sandown, however his plans may be open to change after Kempton were forced to put their King George meeting back by almost three weeks due to bad weather.
“It wouldn’t be ideal but we’ll see how he gets on in the Christmas Hurdle first,” explained Berry.
“How he gets on there will tell us whether he’ll need a bit more time between his races.”
Rival assessment
This year’s Champion Hurdle looks like being one of the most competitive for years and connections of Binocular are more than aware of the task he faces as he looks to retain his crown.
“We have a lot of respect for the emerging horses coming through,” Berry said.
“They (Pedddlers Cross and Menorah) were good novices, right up there at the top, and you’d have to have a lot of respect for them.”
