No Irish trip for Binocular

Nicky Henderson has ruled out taking Binocular to Ireland for his prep race before the Stan James Champion Hurdle.

The 2010 winner of the Cheltenham prize was forced to miss his intended run in the Contenders Hurdle at Sandown on Saturday when that meeting fell to the frost.

Now the Morebattle Hurdle at Kelso and Wincanton's Kingwell Hurdle are under consideration, although the latter remains unlikely.

"I'm not particularly keen to go to Gowran. I was talking to JP (McManus) about it last night and the ground tends to be fairly soft over there at this time of year," the trainer told Racing UK's Mark Your Card programme on Saturday.

"The Kingwell doesn't suit me ideally because that's where Grandouet is going and I'm not mad keen on them meeting at this stage because I don't want a full-blooded battle so close to the Champion Hurdle.

"It's probably quite important to get another run into Binocular, that's what we've always said we wanted to do with him this year."

Henderson issued an upbeat bulletin on Grandouet who won the Stan James International Hurdle at Cheltenham in December.

"He's in good form. He worked on Friday and is all lined up for the Kingwell which is where he was always going to go," the trainer said.