I have always been a huge admirer of Binocular and believe he will be a stronger and better horse this season.
He faces some classy rivals in today’s Fighting Fifth at Newcastle (1.50) the most notable of which is the rapidly improving Solwhit.
However in a race where there are no confirmed front runners I believe that Nicky Henderson’s five-year-old will have too much speed for Charles Byrnes’ Champion Hurdle hope, and there is no better man to have in the saddle than AP McCoy when it comes to a tactical affair.
Binocular is reported to be in good form and ready to run, and with his trainer banging in the winners I thought he would have been slightly odds-on for today’s contest so I was surprised to see even money on offer in places about the current Champion Hurdle favourite who is taken to get his season off to winning start.
*Binocular can currently be backed at evens with Corals and Sportingbet. He is generally a 10-11 shot and as short as 4-5 with Ladbrokes and Totesport.
