Connections of 2009 Champion Hurdle third Binocular are set to conduct a thorough check-up on the star in a bid to discover why the hurdler has lost his way this season.

J P McManus’ star has been running below-par since his Cheltenham exploits last March and there was little encouragement when he scrambled home against two inferior rivals at Sandown last weekend.

Trainer Nicky Henderson has admitted that he believes that Binocular can get back to his best before the Smurfit Kappa-sponsored showpiece in four weeks time and explained:  "We all went to bed at the end of last season thinking Binocular would win next year's Champion Hurdle.

"I can't say I'm going to be quite as positive, but I certainly wouldn't recommend ruling him out.

"He's having a full MOT this week and a few interesting things have cropped up.

"The thing that's really been missing this year is the slickness in his hurdling. He has changed his technique and there has to be a reason for that.

"There's nothing that one can see. He's sound and has had no problems all the way through the season, but something is definitely affecting him in that way.

"We have a few interesting ideas and hopefully something will come out of it. We've got time.

"In fairness, this time last year Punjabi was on the back-burner and had been forgotten about.

"We've still time with Binocular and once again Punjabi has not surprisingly been forgotten about.

"Now we are all waiting for Zaynar. He goes to Kelso next Thursday for the Morebattle Hurdle, Punjabi will go to Wincanton again and Binocular will not run again before Cheltenham."

Follow this link to Ladbrokes for information on how to get a free bet on this year’s Champion Hurdle.

Champion Hurdle - Ladbrokes

2m, Cheltenham, March 2010
5 Solwhit, 5 Zaynar, 6 Binocular, 6 Go Native, 8 Khyber Kim, 14 Starluck, 14 Medermit, 14 Punjabi, 16 Celestial Halo, 20 Sublimity, 33 Rock Noir, 40 Donnas Palm, 50 bar, others on request (1/4 odds 1,2,3)