Champion contenders to clash at Newcastle

Binocular and Solwhit are set to clash in a mouth-watering renewal of the WBX.COM Fighting Fifth Hurdle at Newcastle on Saturday.

The pair dominate the market for the Champion Hurdle with Solwhit having risen rapidly through the hurdling ranks, winning the third Grade One of his career when sprinting clear of Muirhead and the much-vaunted Hurricane Fly in the Morgiana Hurdle at Punchestown earlier this month.

That performance on his seasonal debut came on the back of wins at the Punchestown Festival, where he got the better of a ding-dong battle with reigning champion Punjabi, and a fine performance in the Aintree Hurdle.

Binocular has only lost twice in seven races over hurdles, with both defeats coming at the Cheltenham Festival.

His trainer Nicky Henderson has his string in red-hot form at present and said: 'He's fine and we'll have to put a few more on the lorry to keep AP (McCoy) happy!'

Henderson won the rescheduled race at Wetherby last year when subsequent Champion Hurdle victor Punjabi got the better of former Cheltenham winner Sublimity.

With Punjabi absent this year due to a minor setback, Robbie Hennessy is hoping his stable star can go one better.

'He had a schooling race about 10 days ago at Fairyhouse just to give him a good blow, but the ground was very heavy. He went very well though and we were delighted with him,' said Hennessy.

'He feels as good as ever and he hasn't got much mileage on the clock.

'Philip (Carberry) came over from France to school him the other day and he says he feels as well as ever.

'His jumping was brilliant - he was scary the other day he was that fast over them.

'Philip will fly into Newcastle from France on Friday night and we are running Donegal in a novice hurdle so he can get a look at the track beforehand.

'The ground should be fine. I got a text off Newcastle saying it was good to soft and it drains well too.

'The weather's mild too - not like last year when it was a bit of a disaster.

'We might not be at Newbury but let's hope we are toasting a Hennessy Saturday night!'