Binocular has Newcastle in sights to Henderson's delight

Henderson started last season with such high hopes for his French-bred gelding, but he got off to the worst possible start in last year's renewal at Gosforth Park, finishing only fifth.

Things did not come right until just before the Cheltenham Festival, where he enjoyed his crowning moment in the Champion Hurdle.

"The Fighting Fifth was a disaster last year but I'm much happier with him," said Henderson.

"You can tell as much from schooling them as you can tell from working them and he only popped over five the other day, but he was brilliant. If he schools right, he is right.

"The way the races are graded is the path you take, so the obvious steps are the Fighting Fifth and then the Christmas Hurdle is the next Grade One."

Newbury's three-day long Hennessy meeting was the focal point of a press visit to Henderson's Seven Barrows stables in Lambourn, where some of his string were put through their paces up the gallops on a glacial morning.

Henderson can be counted upon to send out winner after winner at his local track and among those lined up for the fixture are Duc De Regniere, possibly against Big Buck's in the sportingbet.com Long Distance Hurdle.

Henderson could start useful hurdler Finian's Rainbow off at the meeting in a two-mile novice chase, while Secret World, long absent for Jeremy Noseda, is being geared up for a hurdling campaign and was given a good mention.

French recruit A Media Luz, yet to set foot on a British racecourse but joint second-favourite for the Triumph Hurdle, may need "a bit more time".

Henderson has realistic claims of wresting the trainers' championship from long-term holder Paul Nicholls this time around and had news of his other more established stars, including last weekend's Paddy Power Gold Cup third Long Run.

"Amazingly, when some people were saying he was not as good as we thought, he has been put up 4lb by the handicapper!" added the trainer.

"A race like the Paddy Power took him out of his comfort zone and I want to look at one or two things with his jumping. But he's fine and we're still looking at the King George.

"Punjabi is going chasing but he's behind many of the others and won't make the Newbury meeting. Hopefully he'll be ready in about three weeks.

"I'm not running Punchestowns in the Hennessy and he'll go for a graduation chase at Sandown next month."