Kelso prep for Zaynar

Zaynar is unlikely to wear cheekpieces in his prep race for the Smurfit Kappa Champion Hurdle.

The grey has worn the headgear only once, when winning the Triumph Hurdle last season. Successful at Ascot and Cheltenham this term, he will bid to take his unbeaten record over hurdles to six in the Victor Chandler Morebattle Hurdle at Kelso on February 18.

Henderson reported: "My initial reaction would be not to put cheekpieces on him at Kelso and keep them up our sleeve. He can hit flat spots and he does genuinely stay. Sometimes when the pace hots up a bit he can just get tapped for toe for 10 strides. It just keeps him on the bridle."

Henderson is hoping for some more spark from his other leading Champion Hurdle hopeful, Binocular, at Sandown on Saturday.

Last year's Cheltenham third warms up for another crack at the Smurfit Kappa-sponsored showpiece on March 16.

He has yet to show his best form in two races this term, finishing fifth to Go Native in the Fighting Fifth Hurdle at Newcastle and third in Kempton's Christmas Hurdle. But Henderson is optimistic of an improved effort from the JP McManus-owned gelding in the toteswinger Contenders Hurdle.

Henderson said: "If the weather will allow us Binocular will go to Sandown. We are taking this route because I'm pretty sure he wants more room, a big galloping track and hopefully a good pace. The season has not quite got off to the start we anticipated with him, but I am hoping we are getting there.

"We have been trying very hard to analyse the whole thing. He does seem very good at the moment. That's not saying he wasn't good before but we feel there has been a bit missing.

"He's sparky enough, it's as though he's not quite as quick as he once was. He's grown into a big, strong horse. He shouldn't have lost any of his speed and has matured. There's no point pretending he hasn't been disappointing but he ran a respectable race at Kempton and was coming back at the end."