Binocular: jumped well in a schooling session at Seven Barrows
PICTURE: Edward Whitaker/racingpostpix.comBinocular schools - but decision not yet made
BINOCULAR came through a crucial schooling session on Wednesday, although a final decision on whether he lines up for the Smurfit Kappa Champion Hurdle will not be made until Friday at the earliest, trainer Nicky Henderson reported.
The JP McManus-owned six-year-old, who has re-entered the Champion Hurdle picture after being given a clean bill of health last week despite a feeling he may have been suffering muscular problems, jumped well under Tony McCoy and is due to work in two days' time.
Henderson said on Wednesday: "I would liketo be able to say positively now whether he will run at Cheltenham, but we have got to wait until Friday really, and see how he goes then."
Paddy Power and Victor Chandler have trimmed Binocular's Champion Hurdle odds to 8-1 from 10-1, while Ladbrokes have reinserted him into their market.
Ladbrokes spokesman David Williams said: "Binocular has roared back into the reckoning on the back of upbeat reports. At 8-1 he's not a great deal bigger than when he came out of the Champion Hurdle list, so the recent vibes are clearly positive."
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