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Sportinglife.com 12/1/11:
> Connections feel Binocular may not be at his best until the stanjames.com Champion Hurdle at March.
Nicky Henderson’s charge runs in Saturday’s williamhill.com Christmas Hurdle at Kempton but while connections expect a good run, they stress all roads lead to Cheltenham in March for his bid to retain the title.
"He’s a burly boy and takes a fair bit of work," trainer Nicky Henderson’s assistant Tom Symonds told At The Races.
"The boss is not one who is going to ready them so much at home that they are going to be fighting fit in November when March is the target.
"It’s a long process, and Binocular doesn’t show a lot at home. <
Be wary, be very wary.
Zip
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"He’s very well. AP (McCoy) came and sat on him on last week and schooled him and I saw a beaming face when he was getting off" Nicky Henderson.
This isn’t November it February
Common sense tells me he was never right last year until the Champion Hurdle and in no way was that deliberate. Starluck beat him just over a length that day in arace with no gallop, so he has very little to make up on him.
This is a couple of 2nd graders he’s taking on here not Hurrciane Fly.
He’ll want a fast run race and he’ll get it and doesn’t need to be 100% to beat this lot.
Binocular chucked up a blinder in the Champion, but has more excuses than a politician – for me he is just inconsistent and 2/1 about an inconsistent horse is not for me.
Just can’t trust Binocular even though he’s clearly the class act here, he just puts in too many no shows.
Starluck just seems a touch under top class but likes Kempton so has a chance, Kyhber Kim may just need the run, so my hard earned will be on Overturn, definitely worth an e/w at 7/1, think he might just catch them all flat footed, the only danger is he sets it up for Binocular but with his patchy form I’m happy to back the McCain horse.
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I don’t think Overturn is up to this class of opposition – I suspect he’s being used to put a fitter Binocular to the test – and the favourite is most definitely opposable. Nicky Henderson muttered in the press earlier in the week that he’d come on again for the run, giving the impression that March is the only time he’ll be in top shape.
Starluck ran well at Newbury and goes well here, but has to be a doubt on soft ground, especially if Overturn gives them something to aim at. The door, therefore, looks open for Escort’men.
He’s improving, will handle the ground, will travel whatever pace they go and won so easily at the course last February that he could just cause an upset.
I actually give
Escort’men
a fair shout in this.
He needs to find massive improvement to win this, but that is not impossible and he won in similar conditions over course and distance last year.
He smashed Frascati Park and Salden Licht that day, and whilst that level of form leaves him with a mountain to climb here, the four finishers that day have all won since.
He has a bucket load of speed and I think he could be capable of a top two finish.
Should be an intriguing tactical affair.
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Overturn will struggle to burn them off over this sharp track, as he failed to do at Haydock.
Binocular is clearly the class horse in the race, so it’s just a question of if he will run like it? Given his stable have only been as downbeat about his chances in last year’s Champion, he probably will, and 5/2 doesn’t nearly do his superiority justice.2:45 Kempton Christmas Hurdle
BackedBinocular
for the Champion 365 days before the race (that price 5/1 is still available). Saw him at Newbury and seemed a touch burly and blew more than any other runner afterwards. Connections seemed genuinely pleased with the run. However, Henderson is still making excuses before the race has started and although he isn’t bad value at 9/4 (I make him 85/40); think there is better elsewhere. Might save on him if it gets any bigger.
If Binny is below form, there’s only 3½ lengths between him andKhyber Kim
at their best. A horse that has an excellent record fresh and goes on soft ground. However, it’s questionable whether the right-handed sharp Kempton Park is as suitable. And, although Twister is in better form than this time last year, is still (imo) not 100%.
Starluck
goes well here, but the soft going may put more emphasis on stamina than he likes. I am not so sure whether he finds little whatever the course.
Escort’men
‘s form is difficult to weigh up, could be something or nothing. Certainly has the right conditions. But he’s never been thought of as a Champion prospect by his astute trainer.
ForgetBocamix
, not good enough.
The one I like at the price isOverturn
. Won some nice handicaps under big weights over hurdles and flat. Mightily impressive in Ireland’s Guiness Hurdle under 11-6 and Northumberland Plate. Off the course since eased in the Ebor which must be a concern. However, Donald McCain has given signs recently should be ready. Has more speed than flat career suggests. Most wins coming on a fast surface, but has winning form on soft too. A front runner, who might get his own way and be difficult to pass.
Backed Overturn each way @ 7/1.
Value Is EverythingI took Overturn at 7’s too, must have a serious chance of stealing it from the front with so many other hold up horses!!
Definetly value at 7’s for 1/4 the odds 1,2. J Mc also said he thinks the horse has improved again, he is a top class horse in his own right. The ebor was just one race too many last season! Serious chance of finishing in the money from the front!
Hopefully!!
I agree with those that cannot touch Binocular. He is just too risky and you know his trainer will come out with some reason/excuse when he’s beaten.
I’m going to risk Starluck on the ground as Kempton is tailor made for him and this is his Champion Hurdle.
Zip
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2:45 Kempton Christmas Hurdle
BackedBinocular
for the Champion 365 days before the race (that price 5/1 is still available). Saw him at Newbury and seemed a touch burly and blew more than any other runner afterwards. Connections seemed genuinely pleased with the run. However, Henderson is still making excuses before the race has started and although he isn’t bad value at 9/4 (I make him 85/40); think there is better elsewhere. Might save on him if it gets any bigger.
If Binny is below form, there’s only 3½ lengths between him andKhyber Kim
at their best. A horse that has an excellent record fresh and goes on soft ground. However, it’s questionable whether the right-handed sharp Kempton Park is as suitable. And, although Twister is in better form than this time last year, is still (imo) not 100%.
Starluck
goes well here, but the soft going may put more emphasis on stamina than he likes. I am not so sure whether he finds little whatever the course.
Escort’men
‘s form is difficult to weigh up, could be something or nothing. Certainly has the right conditions. But he’s never been thought of as a Champion prospect by his astute trainer.
ForgetBocamix
, not good enough.
The one I like at the price isOverturn
. Won some nice handicaps under big weights over hurdles and flat. Mightily impressive in Ireland’s Guiness Hurdle under 11-6 and Northumberland Plate. Off the course since eased in the Ebor which must be a concern. However, Donald McCain has given signs recently should be ready. Has more speed than flat career suggests. Most wins coming on a fast surface, but has winning form on soft too. A front runner, who might get his own way and be difficult to pass.
Backed Overturn each way @ 7/1.
Good luck….Only reason he’s running is to convince the owner he’s wasting his time and money entering him for the champion hurdle
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Overturn for me.
Starluck is always finding one or five too good, Khyber Kim looks better over further, and Binocular will have a similar season to last so they have a hope in hell of beating the Hurricane at Cheltenham, I’ll also ignore Escort’men as Ruby wasn’t keen on him.
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Oh ye of little faith
Champion performance – great jumps at last two and plenty in hand.
Blinder by Overturn too. McCain’s will know exactly where they are with Peddlar’s.
I thought Overturn ran a cracker for his first run back!!
Hat off to Binocular tho, McCoy oozed confidance all the way around!!
Well done if you backed Binny. Starluck was very disappointing for me.
He did it well but I do not think he will win the Champion Hurdle.
Overturn was not that far away and I am sure Peddlers is a better horse.
For me, Menorah’s form this season has been far above anything else and Binny’s win means the price of Menorah has now touched 5/1. E/W steal?
I have a big feeling for Binny being a well held third in the 2011 Champion with Peddlers and Menorah fighting out the finish.
This year’s race is a lot stronger and I feel sure that Binny will come up short.
You would agree, Fist?
Zip
I couldn’t really argue a convincing case against anyone who had the opinion that Peddlers Cross, Binocular or Menorah had the strongest form this year in England.
Binoculars win on Saturday was arguably the best performance of the season in England thus far, but the kicking in to touch (inevitable excuses aside) by Peddlers Cross is difficult to forget.
Menorah has been unbeaten and faultless this season and very impressive. C&D Grade 1 winner.
Peddlers Cross looks like one of those (very!) likeable sorts who find plenty off the bridle, from a fair way out. He may well be the value on the day as i feel these types are often overpriced / under-rated due to this reason. He goes the proven path of horses such as Istabraq and Hardy Eustace in stepping back from RSA Novice glory to 2m Open company.
However, the Irish horses, notably multi-Grade 1 winning, and still unexposed, Hurricane Fly surely can’t be ruled out of any lists. If arriving fit and well, he’d potentially be vying for favouritism i would think. The negative against him compared to the other three would be the other three having winning Grade 1 course form. Fingers crossed he gets there in one piece and we see how good he is.
The Champion Hurdle looks back to ‘Festival Highlight’ status this season after a couple of uninspiring years.
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