Last year’s Smurfit Kappa Champion Hurdle third Binocular will not be going to the festival having been pulled out of this year’s race due to injury.
The Nicky Henderson trained six-year-old has been ruled out for the rest of the season having picked up a muscle problem.
After a disappointing reappearance behind Go Native in the Fighting Fifth Hurdle at Newcastle, he put up a better performance behind the same rival when a close third in the Christmas Hurdle at Kempton. He was last seen earlier this month when justifying short odds with a comfortable victory at Sandown.
Henderson said: "He's completely sound but a minor, yet significant, muscle problem has been diagnosed and explains our concerns.
"We feel we don't have sufficient time to treat this in order for him to do himself justice in the Champion Hurdle.
"We have unfortunately decided to put him away for the season to ensure he can begin next term as normal and 100% for a full campaign, which we obviously hope will lead us back to Champion Hurdle" added the Seven Barrows trainer.
Henderson still has a strong hand in the Champion Hurdle with leading fancy Zaynar and last year’s winner Punjabi.
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