Binocular on target for Aintree Binocular remains firmly on course for a tilt at the John Smith's Aintree Hurdle on Saturday week. The seven-year-old was forced to miss the defence of his Champion Hurdle crown at the Cheltenham Festival after being treated for an allergy, but trainer Nicky Henderson could not be happier with his condition. "He worked on Tuesday and was in brilliant form. The plan is to run at Aintree," the Seven Barrows handler told At The Races. "We haven't taken any chances with him and we won't be taking any chances, but if the ground is good, he'll be there." It will be Binocular's first attempt over two and a half miles on Merseyside, but Henderson does not envisage the step up in distance being a problem. "I'm not worried about the trip. He has always wanted a strongly-run, two-mile race, like he gets at Cheltenham, and I cannot believe he's not going to get two and a half at Aintree," he said.
