Binocular takes a long view

Henderson mount misses Champion Hurdle to ensure recovery for next campaign

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Zaynar takes the high road today but at least he'll be in Cheltenham before his stablemate, Binocular, who was scratched yesterday from the Smurfit Champion Hurdle. Already supplanted by Zaynar as ante post favourite, Binocular did not appear to impress Tony McCoy any more in winning at Sandown the other day than he had in two defeats previously this season. Yesterday their trainer, Nicky Henderson, had the cold comfort of tracing the physical inhibition in a horse who had finished a close third to yet another Seven Barrows star, Punjabi, in the Champion last year.

"He's completely sound but a minor, yet significant, muscle problem has been diagnosed and explains our concerns," Henderson said. "We feel we don't have sufficient time to treat this, for him to do himself justice in the Champion Hurdle. We have decided to put him away for the season, to ensure he can begin next term 100 per cent for a full campaign."

It would now seem likely that McCoy will take over whichever mount is rejected by Barry Geraghty after Punjabi and Zaynar have completed their preparations. Punjabi meets Celestial Halo in the Bathwick Tyres Kingwell Hurdle at Wincanton on Saturday, while Zaynar finds an exotic setting for his own rehearsal at Kelso this afternoon, in the Victor Chandler Morebattle Hurdle.

A star turn like this offers the cherished Borders track a gratifying day in the sun, albeit the track must pass an inspection with frost expected overnight. Even with Denman's recent Newbury embarrassment in mind, few will detect any menace in the four animals daring to stand in his path. Zaynar is unbeaten in five starts over timber, and so represents fresh blood in a rather stagnant division.

Whether this year's champion will cope with the next generation is another matter. Dunguib looks the most gifted novice in a long time, while another terrific display at Punchestown yesterday confirmed Rite Of Passage as eligible to take him on again some day.

Sent off favourite when third to Dunguib in the Festival Bumper, Rite Of Passage has since proved the more natural jumper of the two. Tried over two and a half miles at Punchestown, he did not have to dig at all deep, but Dermot Weld was none the less satisfied that he should go two miles and five furlongs at the Festival next month, rather than meet Dunguib over the bare two.

"It was a satisfactory performance, but that's as far as I would go," Weld said. "He found the track a little tight. It's only his second run over hurdles, and the reason for bringing him here was to experience the undulations. It took him time to get used to them, which he did. He's a big horse, and I think a more galloping track would suit."

Proceedings were overshadowed, however, by the news that a 21-year-old rider, Ronan Lawlor, had been killed in a horrifying gallops accident at Pat Fahy's Co Carlow yard the previous morning. John Murphy, another trainer who knew him well, described Lawlor as "a fabulous kid – one of those old-fashioned, genuine kids that are so rare in the world nowadays."

Turf account: Chris McGrath

Nap

Raise You Five (3.45 Ffos Las) Bumped into an on-song rival last time but the way she coasted through the race implied that her improvement since being upped in trip for handicaps has not yet come to a halt.

Next best

Charles Parnell (4.40 Southwell) Back to form since being returned to this surface and confirmed that he remains well handicapped when finishing best on his last visit, perhaps set too much to do. A rare start over 7f could even prompt further progress.

One to watch

Wetherby Place (M Wigham) was only recently imported from Ireland but has quickly found her feet, finishing well at Wolverhampton last Saturday.

Where the money's going

Rite Of Passage is 3-1 favourite from 4-1 with Coral for the Neptune Investment Management Novices' Hurdle at Cheltenham next month.