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Comeback kid Binocular just Champion
16:45, Mar 16 2010
Binocular bounced right back to his brilliant best with a devastating display in the Smurfit Kappa Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham.
The six-year-old was narrowly beaten into third when sent off favourite 12 months ago but had failed to rediscover his best form in three starts earlier this season - and had been ruled out of the race in February.
But sent off at 9-1 in the hands of Tony McCoy, Nicky Henderson's charge could be called the winner a long way from home and he quickened right away after the final flight to beat Khyber Kim (7-1) with plenty to spare.
Zaynar, another of Henderson's three runners, was third at 15-2.
It is an extraordinary change of fortune for Binocular having been beaten in the Fighting Fifth at Newcastle and the Christmas Hurdle at Kempton earlier in the season.
Having failed to impress when winning a minor event at Sandown last month, connections initially ruled him out of the Champion Hurdle but he was back in the reckoning after a couple of impressive pieces of work last week.
The major disappointment of the race was Noel Meade's favourite Go Native, who travelled well for a long way but was beaten turning for home.
Another Irish raider Solwhit, who had scoped dirty at the start of last week, was also well held, as was Henderson's 2009 winner Punjabi.
McCoy said: "When I schooled him last week it was the first time he has hurdled like we know Binocular can - like a champion hurdler. He didn't have a good build-up this year. He has not been hurdling (well) all year, he's just done something funny every time.
"I'm so happy for JP (McManus, owner). This is better than any feeling I have had from the horse. It's hard to win here and this is everything."
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Cold snap affects sporting weekend 15:45, Feb 11 2012
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Rangers ease to win at Dunfermline 15:45, Feb 11 2012
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