Binocular’s participation doubtful in the Christmas Hurdle
The popular hurdler, Binocular, who has won the Grade 1 williamhill.com Christmas Hurdle for the last two years, is highly unlikely to compete in this year’s edition.
"I don't think Binocular definitely goes there - he came back into training a little later and might not get to Kempton on Boxing Day," said Seven Barrows representative Charlie Morlock.
"Darlan has an entry in The Ladbroke at Ascot. Grandouet will be entered for Kempton and I'm sure Darlan will be too."
His absence from the line-up is uncertain, not definite.
Last year, the Nicky Henderson trained defeated Paul Nicholls’ representative, Rock On Ruby, by a neck’s mark.
The trainer of the runner-up had the other entry in form of, Sanctuaire, who finished last in the field of five.
On 15th January, 2011, Binocular was entered as the favourite and he defeated the Donald McCain trained Overturn by 3 ¾ lengths.
The race is contested by horses who are four-year-old and above at Kempton Park during the King George VI Chase meeting.
The race over two miles has been raced ever since 1969 and down the years, the prize money of the race has gone up to £100,000. Another very attractive feature of the race is that it serves as the second leg of the WBX Hurdling Triple Crown since 2006.
If a horse wins the Fighting Fifth Hurdle and then the Champion Hurdle after the Christmas Hurdle, he wins the Triple Crown.
The Fighting Fifth Hurdle was won by Countrywide Flame, but his participation in the Christmas Hurdle has not been confirmed as yet. In the likely absence of the dual winner of the race, the entry of Countrywide Flame will attract a lot of betting.
The eight-year-old French bay gelding, Binocular, has not raced ever since this season took off, the connections are not certain about his participation on the Boxing Day and have also not stated any future options for him.
Even though trainer, Nicky Henderson landed the last two editions of the race that too with the same under charge, the leading trainer of the race is Noel Meade, he won the title in 2006, 2008 and 2009 with the total reaching four.
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