Hot favourite Binocular can justify all the hype by landing the Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham

Nicky Henderson's exciting prospect, who is a short as 5-4 for the two-mile Grade 1 contest and the banker of the meeting for many, is already being talked of as the next Istabraq after several easy wins in the run up to the Festival.

And there are several similarities between Binocular and Ireland's three-time champion at this stage of their respective careers.

Istabraq and Binocular both won twice on the Flat prior to owner JP McManus acquiring them and Istabraq was also made favourite for his first Champion Hurdle after an unbeaten season.

At a Festival preview evening in Wexford last week, Aidan O'Brien, who masterminded Istabraq's hat-trick of Champion Hurdle victories, described Binocular as "full of class" and made him his nap of the week.

Even ignoring the coincidences, the form book still screams out the name Binocular who bids to become only the third five-year-old in over 30 years to take the hurdling crown. One of those previous five-year-old winners was See You Then, who went on to win the race three times and was also trained by Henderson.

Twelve months ago, Binocular finished second in the Supreme Novices' Hurdle and Tony McCoy, aboard for the first time on that occasion, has said that had he known the horse better he would have held on to him much longer before going for home, a tactic used with an eye-catching success next time at Aintree.

Most recently at Ascot, Binocular took on the best of the Brits in Celestial Halo, Katchit and Crack Away Jack and dispensed with them in the manner of a champion. That event was run at a true pace, as it will be tomorrow, and McCoy's mount picked up the front-running Celestial Halo with ease before romping to victory.

The one concern is the ground and Henderson will be hoping the forecast heavy rain keeps away as Binocular wouldn't want it too soft.

Paul Nicholls believes Celestial Halo can turn the tables on the selection, but has over four lengths to make up from last time.

Osana is the best of David Pipe's pair of runners, but his form is closely matched to both Katchit and Celestial Halo, suggesting he also has a few pounds to find.

Sublimity, who won the race in 2007, could pose a threat but the nine-year-old is unlikely to get his favoured good ground.

This is one of the highest quality renewals ever with the winners of each of the last five - Katchit, Sublimity, Brave Inca and dual hero Hardy Eustace - all lining up.

Either way they all have to step up their game by some way to deny Binocular his place in history and stop him continuing on the road to becoming the next Istabraq.