Binocular given all clear

Henderson allows last year's third to takehis chance at Cheltenham

Last updated: 12th March 2010   Subscribe to RSS Feed

Binocular given all clear

Binocular

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Former Champion Hurdle favourite Binocular has been confirmed a definite starter by trainer Nicky Henderson after coming through a gallop on Friday.

Henderson had initially ruled the gelding out of Tuesday race at Cheltenham after being diagnosed with a muscle problem last month.

But with the injury now behind the six-year-old connections are happy to let last year's third take his chance alongside stablemates Punjabi, who was a surprise winner 12 months ago, and Zaynar.

"We have decided Binocular will run in the Champion Hurdle," said Henderson. "All three of mine will now run.

"Binocular will be ridden by AP (McCoy), Barry (Geraghty) will ride Punjabi and Andrew Tinkler will now ride Zaynar.

"They are all very well and all three are pleasing me."

Loyal

Geraghty has decided to remain loyal to Punjabi after the gelding returned to form at Kempton last month.

"After a lot of hard thinking, I'm going to stay loyal and ride Punjabi in the Champion Hurdle," he told attheraces.com.

"It was not an easy decision to make because Zaynar is a very talented horse that any jockey would want to ride, but I couldn't get off the reigning Champion Hurdler when he's in such good form.

"He's a horse that's done it on the big stage and he knows what to expect on the big day.

"But more important still, he just gave me the most unbelievable feel at Kempton, when he really picked up impressively.

"I'm sure he is simply a spring horse and just comes to himself at this time of year, it was just a much better feel at Kempton to the one he gave me the time before at Haydock."