Binocular is more likely to have a racecourse gallop at Newbury than run in the Bathwick Tyres Kingwell Hurdle at Wincanton on Saturday, despite appearing among the eight entries.

A decision appeared to have been made to send the 2010 champion hurdler straight to Cheltenham, but Nicky Henderson surprised many by entering the eight-year-old this weekend.

However, Henderson has always had this race as a target from Grandouet and he reaffirmed that Simon Munir’s five-year-old was still his first choice for the race.

“Grandouet goes to the Kingwell, Binocular will probably have a racecourse gallop at Newbury instead,” said Henderson.

Celestial Halo is likely to prove Grandouet’s biggest threat.

Paul Nicholls’ former Triumph Hurdle winner benefited from the second-last flight fall of Grandouet in the Elite Hurdle at this track back in November.

Celestial Halo has since won a handicap at Newbury off top weight and the Champion Hurdle Trial at Haydock.

Nicky Mackay plans to appeal against the 10-day whip suspension he was given at Wolverhampton on Monday.

The jockey was partnering favourite Stars In Your Eyes for trainer John Gosden in the Enjoy The Horizons Restaurant Experience Maiden Stakes, but there was immediate concern when the filly nearly ran off the track on the bend entering the back straight.

It got no easier for Mackay when Stars In Your Eyes ran wide again on the home turn, crossing right the way over to the stands rail, and Mister Fizz managed to close to within a nose just by keeping straight.

Although the stewards waived one of Mackay’s strikes of the whip on safety reasons, he was still two hits over the permitted seven.