Pipe Switches Grand Crus to RSA

Grands Crus will contest Wednesday's RSA Chase at the Cheltenham Festival rather than tackle Friday's Betfred Cheltenham Gold Cup.

Trainer David Pipe had been deliberating between the two options for his unbeaten novice, who was last seen when landing the Grade One Feltham Chase at Kempton over Christmas.

Connections had been tempted by the Gold Cup, but Pipe confirmed he will stick to the novice route for now.

He told At The Races: "We had a chat with the owners and the defining thing is you have to do what is right for the horse and in our opinion at this stage of his career the RSA is the right race for him.

"It's what we thought for him as an individual. I'm sure he could cope with the Gold Cup, but hopefully we might be going there next year.

"You're always going into unknown territory, but Tom Scudamore was confident of him getting the Gold Cup trip.

"It's a decision we've made for the horse and the best for him. He's in good form, he's had a good preparation and we wish the race was today.

"Unfortunately Grands Crus and Tom parted company schooling the other day, but all was OK afterwards. Tom schooled him on Sunday and he jumped well.

"You never want these things to happen but they do and he was fine afterwards."

Binocular Out of Champion Hurdle

Nicky Henderson has been dealt a hammer blow with the news that Binocular will miss Tuesday's stanjames.com Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham.

The current champion had been heading the ante-post market at around the 7-2 mark just hours before Sunday's declaration time.

The JP McManus-owned gelding was treated for an allergy two weeks ago and did not respond to initial medication and required further treatment.

Unfortunately Binocular then tested positive for a substance and on the British Horseracing Authority's advice, Henderson was forced to withdraw the horse.

In a statement, Henderson said: 'We have very regretfully had to decide not to declare Binocular for Tuesday's Champion Hurdle.

'He had an allergy two weeks ago that did not respond to initial medication and on veterinary advice and well within normal parameters he required a further treatment the following day.

'As we were getting close to the most important race of the year and also because since that administration to Binocular, another horse had tested positive for the same substance, I thought it prudent to take a precautionary test which not only surprisingly, let alone devastatingly, has also shown to be positive.

'We have therefore reluctantly had to take the BHA's advice this morning that the only reasonable course in everybody's interest is not to confirm the entry and he has consequently been withdrawn from the Champion Hurdle.

'We are all obviously shattered but I am particularly upset for JP (McManus) who has been incredibly understanding as I know how much this horse means to him.'

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