Horse racing: Binocular trains sights on Cheltenham return

BINOCULAR will bypass the BetVictor Morebattle Hurdle at Kelso tomorrow and instead head straight for next month’s Stan James Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham.

The 2010 Champion Hurdle winner has not been seen since landing his second Christmas Hurdle at Kempton on Boxing Day, and trainer Nicky Henderson had been hoping to give his charge one more run before the Festival. But with an intended run at Sandown earlier this month scuppered by frost and options now running out, connections have decided to give a trip to the Scottish Borders a miss and complete the gelding’s Cheltenham preparations at home.

“He won’t be going to Kelso and he’ll go straight to Cheltenham now,” said Frank Berry, racing manager to owner JP McManus. Nicky is happy with him at the moment and doesn’t think it will be a problem. Hopefully we have a trouble-free run and the horse gets there in top form.”

Meanwhile, John Smith’s Grand National favourite Junior features among the 23 entries for the Betfred Grand National Trial at Haydock on Saturday.

David Pipe’s nine-year-old has completed the rare double of landing prizes at the Cheltenham Festival and Royal Ascot, and has not been seen on the racecourse since last year’s Royal meeting.

The nine-year-old is set for an imminent return to the fray, ahead of his run at Aintree in April.

Champion trainer Paul Nicholls has potential top-weight Neptune Collonges engaged, while Irish champion Willie Mullins has three possible raiders in Uncle Junior, Quiscover Fontaine and Some Target. Other interesting possibles include 2009 Grand National winner Mon Mome, Welsh National runner-up Giles Cross and Evan Williams-trained pair Deep Purple and Cappa Bleu.

Hold On Julio, who had been ante-post favourite, was not among the list of possibles.

Trainer Alan King has revealed that the lightly raced nine-year-old may go for the Racing Plus Chase at Kempton on Saturday week, or wait for Cheltenham.