Binocular on course for Christmas Hurdle Binocular remains on course for the William Hill Christmas Hurdle at Kempton, despite no excuse coming to light for his odds-on flop in the Fighting Fifth Hurdle at Newcastle. Nicky Henderson's charge took the place of stablemate Punjabi in the Newcastle event and after finishing third in the Champion Hurdle itself and heading the ante-post markets for the same race, was expected to win. However, he could only trail home fifth, with Henderson refusing to blame the slow pace of the race. "The day after Newcastle he was very lethargic and he was like that for three or four days, but we couldn't find anything," said Henderson. "It was an oddly run race but it was still a disappointing performance and it wasn't what we were expecting. "About Thursday or Friday last week he perked up and I think we've just got to put that one down in the mystery column, there is nothing physically wrong with him. "The plan was Newcastle and then Kempton, so I think we'll stick to the plan and I hope we see the real Binocular there rather than the subdued one from Newcastle," he told At The Races.
