RACING/FIGHTING FIFTH PREVIEW:NICKY HENDERSON believes Binocular heads into this season in better form than in the previous two campaigns as he bids to make it third time lucky in the Stanjames.com Fighting Fifth Hurdle.
The 2010 Champion Hurdle hero’s ability has never been in doubt, but his game has lacked consistency over the past couple of years and he has been beaten at odds-on in this Grade One prize the last two times.
But in-form Henderson is confident his charge heads to Newcastle today in good shape and is keeping everything crossed the real Binocular turns up.
“It’s going to be a very good race, he has run in it before and has always needed it, but he’s a bit leaner and meaner this year,” said the Seven Barrows handler. “Overturn is going to make it an interesting race out in front, but a good pace probably helps him and I’m pleased with how everything has been going.”
Overturn showed his well-being when making the most of the final flight fall of Henderson’s Oscar Whisky in the Coral Hurdle at Ascot just a week ago. His trainer Donald McCain believes there are enough flaws in Binocular to give his performer a real shout.
Jason Maguire will take the mount, flying to Gosforth Park from Bangor after partnering Peddlers Cross over fences for the first time. “They’ve had a bit of rain at Newcastle overnight, which is unfortunate, but I don’t think they’re due to have any more,” said McCain. “We can’t get the money back on the helicopter, so he’s running! He didn’t have as hard a race at Ascot as he might have done had Oscar Whisky stood up jumping the last and he’s in good order.
“Binocular is a bit of a flawed champion. He’s very good on his day but you can’t be scared to take him on because of the way he is. We’re under no illusions that at his very best we’re not as good as him, but our horse is a grand little horse, he’s going to have a holiday afterwards anyway, so we’ll see how we get on.”
The third major contender is the Paul Nicholls Celestial Halo. The seven-year-old won the Elite Hurdle at Wincanton on his seasonal reappearance, albeit perhaps in fortuitous circumstances with the fall of Grandouet.
His owner, Andy Stewart, said: “Overturn didn’t have a hard race last week after Oscar Whisky fell and you have to respect him. On official ratings Celestial Halo has 5lb to find with Binocular. I was actually with Mr McManus yesterday and he said that first time out sometimes Binocular doesn’t run quite as well, so we’ll see.”
