Scu's Trixie: Binocular sights on Triumph

It is nine years since Nicky Henderson last won the Triumph Hurdle with Katarino, but the

trainer has set his sights on this year's prize with BINOCULAR, who can stamp his claims with

victory in Kempton's Adonis Hurdle today.

Currently the second

favourite for the Triumph,

he impressed me when

making a successful

debut at Ascot last month

and the subsequent wins

of the third and fourth

home there, Crack Away

Jack and Metaphoric,

have emphasised the

quality of that form.

Scudamore: Wee Robbie has value

Victory today would

result in his odds for

Cheltenham being cut

behind another J P

McManus-owned runner,

Franchoek.

The Kempton feature,

the Racing Post Chase,

appears to lack a top

quality runner like the

ill-fated Gloria Victis, the winner in 2000, but a

similarly experienced

novice, WEE ROBBIE,

looks the value against

Paul Nicholls-trained

favourite Gungadu today.

When the pair clashed a

year ago in Ascot's

Reynoldstown Chase,

Nick Gifford's charge was

beaten four lengths

when receiving 6lb, yet

he receives 16lb from the

topweight this time and

could take advantage.

He scored at Ascot last

month and was far from

disgraced next time

when a creditable third

to Silverburn at Sandown,

another right-handed

track like today's.

Top northern novices

STRIKING ARTICLE and

Kalahari King clash at

Newcastle and I prefer

the former who looked

smart when winning at

Wetherby last time.