Katchit’s sights on Binocular

THE Champion Hurdler and the horse touted as his successor to the hurdling crown are on a Cheltenham collision course.

Binocular, fresh from his dismissal of vastly-inferior opposition in Haydock’s Betfair Hurdle on Saturday, is likely to have his next run in the Boylesports Hurdle on December 13.

And that just happens to be the target for Katchit, who battled his way to glory in the Champion Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival in March.

Katchit, beaten by Snap Tie on his reappearance at Kempton and only third to Chomba Womba in a Wincanton limited handicap next time, will be aiming to re-establish his place at the head of the ante-post market for the Champion.

But Binocular, one of a host of top-class hurdlers trained by Nicky Henderson, is sure to be favourite for the Boylesports contest if given the green light by a stable which also houses Chomba Womba, Punjabi and Aigle D’Or.

Punjabi, third in last year’s Champion Hurdle and a subsequent winner at the Punchestown Festival, heads for the Fighting Fifth Hurdle at Newcastle this weekend.

Standing in his way at Gosforth Park could be 2007 Champion Hurdle winner Sublimity, who has been lightly raced since his finest hour and was a respectable fourth at Cheltenham in March.

Latest Champion Hurdle betting: 4-1 Binocular, 7-1 Sizing Europe, 8 Crack Away Jack, 10-1 Katchit, 12-1 Osana, 12-1 Jered, 16-1 Sublimity, Punjabi, Chomba Womba, 20-1 Snap Tie, Pierrot Lunaire.

CHARLIE Mann is confident Air Force One will give a good account of himself in Saturday’s Hennessy Gold Cup at Newbury following a promising second on his seasonal reappearance at Ascot.

"He's been jumping out of his skin since Ascot and I thought he ran a blinder that day as he normally improves for his first run, said the trainer.

"He has been trained specifically for this race and I could not be more pleased with him right now.

"He ticks all the right boxes and he is an improving horse. He has won in heavy ground so that would not be a worry. He goes in anything other than dead ground."

TRAINER Nicky Richards believes Monet's Garden can bounce back to his best in the totesport.com Peterborough Chase at Huntingdon on December 11.

The popular grey finished down the field in the Old Roan Chase won by Knowhere at Aintree on his seasonal reappearance.

Monet’s Garden beat Kauto Star in the Aintree contest in 2007, but Richards feels his stable star was not seen at his best at the Merseyside venue last month.

He said: "I think everyone needs to forget his Aintree run as the ground was very testing and he has never been able to show his best on it."

Monet’s Garden is likely to face stiff opposition at Huntingdon, with Noland being mooted as a runner for the all-conquering Paul Nicholls stable.

Noland, only third when a hot favourite for the Arkle Chase at last season’s Cheltenham Festival, bounced back to winning form on his seasonal reappearance at Down Royal in Northern Ireland.

The extra half-mile of that contest clearly suited the 2006 Supreme Novices’ Hurdle winner and Nicholls is hoping the gelding can take the Peterborough Chase in his stride en route to a crack at the Ryanair Chase at Cheltenham.