Nicky Henderson discusses immediate targets for his top horses

News / Timeform / 04 February 2012 / 1 Comments

J P McManus' Binocular

""I'm not particularly keen to go to Gowran. I was talking to JP last night and the ground tends to be fairly soft there at the moment."

Nicky Henderson could be forced to take on stablemate Grandouet as he plots the next step with Binocular on the way to the Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham.

Nicky Henderson could be forced to take on stablemate Grandouet (Timeform master rating of 166) as he plots the next step with Binocular (1 lb higher) on the way to the Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham.

Binocular, the 2010 two-mile king, was denied his prep run in the Contenders Hurdle at Sandown on Saturday as the Esher card fell victim to the cold spell.

Among the options for the JP McManus-owned star is the Red Mills Trial Hurdle at Gowran on February 18, although that appears unlikely. The Kingwell Hurdle at Wincanton takes place the same afternoon.

Henderson said: "I'm not particularly keen to go to Gowran. I was talking to JP last night and the ground tends to be fairly soft there at the moment.

"The Kingwell does not suit me ideally as that is where Grandouet is going, and I'm not mad keen on them meeting at this stage so close to the Champion Hurdle.

"It is probably quite important (to get another run into Binocular before Cheltenham) as that is what we said we want to do with him this year. It's for his benefit, yes, I'd like a run.

"Grandouet is in very good form. He's all lined up for the Kingwell, which was always where he was going to go."

Henderson's plans for his top hurdlers were thrown into further flux with the abandonment of Ffos Las on Saturday, where he had intended to run Oscar Whisky (Timeform rated 171) in the Welsh Champion Hurdle.

He told Racing UK: "If they restaged the Welsh Champion Hurdle there is no reason why Binocular wouldn't come into it. The situation we're under it looks like he's going to have to take on Oscar Whisky or Grandouet."

Henderson confirmed reigning Gold Cup winner Long Run and Arkle favourite Sprinter Sacre on course for next weekend at Newbury, in the Betfair Denman Chase and Game Spirit Chase respectively.

The Seven Barrows maestro is also likely to be represented in the Betfair Hurdle by Darlan (trading at [12.0]) and Soldatino ([17.0]), but remains conscious of the weather.

He said: "We've lost three weekends already and certainly can't afford to be losing Newbury from my point of view.

"It's all gearing up but it's getting nastily close (to Cheltenham) and I would like it all done with the weekend after next. As far as panic stations is concerned, we are ticking over nicely here work-wise."

Comments (1)

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