Just six to face Binocular in Fighting Fifth

Reigning Champion Hurdle hero Binocular features among just seven confirmations for the StanJames.com Fighting Fifth Hurdle at Newcastle on Saturday.

Nicky Henderson's six-year-old enjoyed a torrid first half to the last campaign that included an odds-on reverse in this race.

But he signed off the season with a brilliant display at the Cheltenham Festival and he looks sure to be a hot favourite at Gosforth Park once again.

Henderson is delighted with his star hurdler's current well being, but admits the cold forecast for the north east is a cause for concern.

"All has been going according to plan, but I don't like the forecast," said the Seven Barrows handler.

"He'll have to go on Friday and that's it, but they are forecast temperatures of minus four and minus five.

"We're just going to have to hope."

Asked if there was a contingency plan in place should Newcastle's meeting be beaten by the weather, the trainer said: "It would just be Cheltenham (International Hurdle), but that would take out the Christmas Hurdle here (Kempton).

"Unless they can rearrange the Fighting Fifth, but we'll cross that bridge when we come to it.

"AP (McCoy) schooled him on Friday and that's always the acid test with him.

"He was good and it's going to be a very competitive race. It's a stepping-stone, it's not the Champion Hurdle, but I've been pleased with the way he's gone so far," he told Racing UK.

Perhaps Binocular's biggest rival could be the Donald McCain-trained Peddlers Cross, who is unbeaten in five starts to date.

Sublimity has finished second in the last two renewals and could bid to make it third-time lucky, while Bygones Of Brid, Nearby, Orsippus and Starluck complete the possibles.

The latter was fifth behind Binocular in the Champion Hurdle in March and his trainer Alan Fleming believes he has improved over the summer.

"He improved a lot last year, so much so he was second in the Christmas Hurdle," Fleming told At The Races.

"He is still only five and it was only his second season over hurdles last season.

"It was the first time he'd been that fast when he ran in the Champion Hurdle and he handled himself well.

"Timmy (Murphy) schooled him this morning and he was very happy with him, so we're looking forward to Saturday.

"He's a lot stronger this season, much longer and he's in great form.

"There's nowhere to hide so we have to go to Newcastle."

Binocular is the 8-11 favourite for the race with Sky Bet.