Binocular has been ruled out of the Smurfit Kappa Champion Hurdle due to a muscle problem.
Binocular out of the Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham
Nicky Henderson’s charge finished third behind stablemate Punjabi in the Cheltenham Festival feature last term and had been the favourite to claim the crown at the start of the season. However, an odds-on disappointment on his reappearance in the Fighting Fifth at Newcastle last November was followed by another defeat, albeit a narrow one, in the Christmas Hurdle at Kempton.
Binocular bounced back to winning form in a moderate event at Sandown earlier this month, but despite his easy success, Henderson was not satisfied and the six-year-old underwent a full examination.
Tony McCoy is 8/15 with Sky Bet to ride reigning champion Punjabi in the Smurfit Kappa Champion Hurdle. The champion jockey’s intended mount, Binocular, misses the race because of a muscle problem and the battle is on to secure his services.
Punjabi will require a new jockey if Barry Geraghty elects to partner Zaynar ahead of his stablemate. Tony McCoy, who regularly rides for trainer Nicky Henderson, is 11/4 to partner Zaynar. It’s 10/1 he rides any other horse and 6/1 he doesn’t have a mount in the race.
