Binocular schools ahead of Champion

Champion Hurdle favourite Binocular was one of a number of Cheltenham Festival prospects to be put through their paces at Nicky Henderson's Seven Barrows base this morning.

The five-year-old is unbeaten in two starts over hurdles this season and is as short as even-money to claim the Smurfit Kappa-sponsored hurdling crown next month.

He popped over four hurdles this morning to ready him for the task ahead, while totesport Cheltenham Gold Cup candidate Barbers Shop was another to be seen in action.

"Everything went very well and we schooled the whole lot this morning - it was their last real school before Cheltenham," said Henderson.

"Binocular went very well and we may look to give him a racecourse gallop somewhere but we will see.

"Barbers Shop and numerous others also worked and we were very happy with all of them.

"Barry (Geraghty) and AP (McCoy) were both here so everything is ready. It's been a very, very busy morning."

Geraghty is looking forward to his first Cheltenham Festival as part of the Henderson team and nominates Barbers Shop, Zaynar and Punchestowns as his best chances of success.

"Kauto Star is a worthy favourite for the Gold Cup but I think it is an open enough race," said Geraghty.

"If he (Barbers Shop) doesn't have the experience for Gold Cup this year, I think definitely next year.

"He's really come to himself. He's run twice at Cheltenham and been second twice, behind Finger Onthe Pulse in the Jewson and Imperial Commander in the Paddy Power so he likes the place and he's going the right way."

Zaynar is a general 7-2 favourite for the Triumph Hurdle but was rather laboured in winning at Ascot last time.

"I said to Nicky before the race I wasn't sure how much Ascot was going to suit him, running downhill away from the stands," continued Geraghty.

"He won well at Newbury and he loved it there but he just took a little while to warm up but over the last four hurdles he was very good.

"I'd say the Triumph should suit him and the track should suit him. Walkon is probably the one I've got to beat, they are two good horses and both are above average.

"Punjabi will improve an awful lot from his run at Wincanton. Binocular will be very hard to beat (in the Champion Hurdle) but I think Punjabi will run well.

"The ground didn't matter a whole lot to Punchestowns last time but he'd had a break over Christmas and wasn't fully revved for Cheltenham that day and Big Buck's was getting 8lb.

"I'd be happy enough with turning the tables on him but what Kasbah Bliss did on Saturday was very impressive and he's going to be hard to beat," he told At The Races.