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I watched the race with interest. I’m surprised that AP McCoy did not resort to using the whip once; especially as Binocular seemed to hold every chance.
I think Mr Henderson had Kempton in late December firmly on his mind.
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I was in the Binocular camp and was very tempted at odds against even though he’s not one of ‘my’ horses. Overturn is a horse I’ve never been able to ‘catch’ and Celestial Halo is just a brave and consistent thoroughbred who’s a fair way below top class.
Having watched Binocular fail yet again, I think the only realistic conclusion is that he was never as good as we thought he was. Four of his nine hurdle wins have been at odds on – 3 of those at very long odds on.
His only odds against victory since his Champion Hurdle win was his defeat of Overturn (then rated 159) in the Christmas Hurdle when Binocular was rated 171. (Today he had just a pound in hand of Overturn on OR)
Runner up in Binocular’s CH was Khyber Kim. Other than that he’s beaten Celestial Halo a number of times but has been beaten by Go Native and Punjabi, Oscar Whisky and, of course, Hurricane Fly.
His Champion Hurdle victory was one of those visually scintillating ones that leaves on punters an impression which sometimes takes a long (and expensive) time to shake off.
Never fancied Binocular and point well proven today. At his best, he’s clearly better than the rest of the field here, but how many chances is he going to get? Ok, he has a rough record first time out, but it’s getting a bit silly now. Unless he runs away with any races this year, my opinion of him will be lowered greatly
I watched the race with interest. I’m surprised that AP McCoy did not resort to using the whip once; especially as Binocular seemed to hold every chance.
I think Mr Henderson had Kempton in late December firmly on his mind.
I sincerely doubt he was in any way short today, he was expected to win. I think what we saw is what we get and his Champion Hurdle days are well behind him.
If I were Donald McCain I would aim Overturn at Kempton which is more his type of track than it is Binoculars’. Can’t see him beating the McCain horse if he does.
I doubt if we’ll ever see the real Binocular again. Whether it’s something physical or something to do with allergies I don’t know but he’s not the same horse.
He’s 12/1 still for the Champion Hurdle I’d want that price AP actually riding him if he gets there at all.
I was in the Binocular camp and was very tempted at odds against even though he’s not one of ‘my’ horses. Overturn is a horse I’ve never been able to ‘catch’ and Celestial Halo is just a brave and consistent thoroughbred who’s a fair way below top class.
Having watched Binocular fail yet again, I think the only realistic conclusion is that he was never as good as we thought he was. Four of his nine hurdle wins have been at odds on – 3 of those at very long odds on.
His only odds against victory since his Champion Hurdle win was his defeat of Overturn (then rated 159) in the Christmas Hurdle when Binocular was rated 171. (Today he had just a pound in hand of Overturn on OR)
Runner up in Binocular’s CH was Khyber Kim. Other than that he’s beaten Celestial Halo a number of times but has been beaten by Go Native and Punjabi, Oscar Whisky and, of course, Hurricane Fly.
His Champion Hurdle victory was one of those visually scintillating ones that leaves on punters an impression which sometimes takes a long (and expensive) time to shake off.
Got to take you to task on this one.
Binocular was a brilliant juvenile who put up a massive display in the Supreme Hurdle and would have probably won had Nicky Henderson known he was going to run.
Had he been ridden with more commitment in Punjabi’s race he would most certainly be a dual winner of the Champion Hurdle.
His win the following year was breathtaking and your’d have to go back to Istabraq to find a horse who would have beaten him that day.
When he flopped in his first Fighting Fifth Hurdle AP got off him and said he didn’t feel like the same horse.
Ever since he’s been plagued by sickness, been taken out of the Champion Hurdle then put back in, missed the race again because of allergies etc etc.
To say he wasn’t as good as we thought and ignore the facts staring you in the face, in the words of Mr Spock " That would be Illogical"
I’d have to disagree and say that he’s just not as good as people thought he was. He ran a cracker in the Supreme in fairness but the Champion Hurdle behind Punjabi and Celestial Halo was a poor race in hindsight. Katchit (another poor winner), Muirhead, these are decent animals but a long way off the best 2 mile hurdlers. The top Irish Hurdlers were over the hill at the time (Hardy Eustace and Harchibald). And the own he won wasn’t much better.
A high class two mile hurdler, but not top class.
They say there’s no such a thing as a poor Champion Hurdle only better ones.
If you look back at Istabraq and what he beat Theatre World twice and Hors La Loi III on the other occasion. Great races? don’t look that way now and certainly no better the the horses Binocular beat.
Katchit a poor winner that’s the laugh of the century. I think you can say very disappointing since but he achieved more at 4 and 5 than most achieve in a life time.
He was the first horse to do the Triumph Hurdle Champion Hurdle double since Persian War he had one of the best 4 year old records seen in decades.
He would have arguably still beaten the high class Sizing Europe had he not gone wrong,and left previous Champion Hurdle winner Sublimity and Champion Hurdle winner to be Punjabi in his wake.
If Katchit was a poor winner of the race I’d love to know what was a good one was?
Losing your form or deteriorating after touch early life campaigns come with the territory. Katchit is very small and there was always the danger he wouldn’t train on and gawd only knows Binocular has had more problems than my granny and she’s a hypochondriac.
They say there’s no such a thing as a poor Champion Hurdle only better ones.
Point taken. I think it must be likely Sizing Europe would have won had he not gone wrong, but alas we’ll never know.
I’d fancy Hurricane Fly to kick Binocular, Punjabi, Katchit and co. into touch even at the peak o their powers.
I was in the Binocular camp and was very tempted at odds against even though he’s not one of ‘my’ horses. Overturn is a horse I’ve never been able to ‘catch’ and Celestial Halo is just a brave and consistent thoroughbred who’s a fair way below top class.
Having watched Binocular fail yet again, I think the only realistic conclusion is that he was never as good as we thought he was. Four of his nine hurdle wins have been at odds on – 3 of those at very long odds on.
His only odds against victory since his Champion Hurdle win was his defeat of Overturn (then rated 159) in the Christmas Hurdle when Binocular was rated 171. (Today he had just a pound in hand of Overturn on OR)
Runner up in Binocular’s CH was Khyber Kim. Other than that he’s beaten Celestial Halo a number of times but has been beaten by Go Native and Punjabi, Oscar Whisky and, of course, Hurricane Fly.
His Champion Hurdle victory was one of those visually scintillating ones that leaves on punters an impression which sometimes takes a long (and expensive) time to shake off.
Got to take you to task on this one.
Binocular was a brilliant juvenile who put up a massive display in the Supreme Hurdle and would have probably won had Nicky Henderson known he was going to run.
Had he been ridden with more commitment in Punjabi’s race he would most certainly be a dual winner of the Champion Hurdle.
His win the following year was breathtaking and your’d have to go back to Istabraq to find a horse who would have beaten him that day.
When he flopped in his first Fighting Fifth Hurdle AP got off him and said he didn’t feel like the same horse.
Ever since he’s been plagued by sickness, been taken out of the Champion Hurdle then put back in, missed the race again because of allergies etc etc.
To say he wasn’t as good as we thought and ignore the facts staring you in the face, in the words of Mr Spock " That would be Illogical"
I’m not so sure I’m the one ignoring the facts – the fact is he did not win The Supreme and he did not beat Punjabi (who’s won once since at 1/6).
For me his reputation was built mainly on that visually striking performance when he won the CH and, to a lesser extent, another visual stunner when he won at Ascot (poor old Cel Halo the victim yet again).
As to mysterious withdrawals/illnesses, I can’t comment as I don’t know what was happening behind the scenes. His acceleration when on song was most impressive but if you hadn’t seen any of his races and judged him only by what is in the formbook, I don’t think it supports his high reputation.
Binocular won a poor Champion Hurdle, no doubt about it. The fact that Khyber Kim and Zaynar chased him home says it all – not Grade 1 animals in a million years. Both Solwhit and Go Native ran no race but both had legitimate excuses.
He has been visually impressive on a few occasions – most notably at Liverpool as a 4yo and at Ascot in the Bula later that year. However, he was only beating Celestial Halo in both those races. An admirable little horse, but again not a hurdling superstar by any stretch of the imagination.
Binocular is too soft against the best of the best and looks regressive now. Hurricane Fly made scutter of him at Punchestown in May. Overturn, who beat him fairly comfortably yesterday, was out with the washing in the Champion Hurdle. Binocular may win another soft Grade 1 somewhere (Kempton most likely) but he hasn’t a prayer in a Champion Hurdle these days.
Everyone seems to agree Binocular was visually impressive but don’t believe their own eyes because the horse as I said before has gone through the wars since. He din’t beat Khyber Kin and co he destroyed them. Big Bucks only beat Fivedreams by 5 lengths maybe that says it all too
The times on the days of the last 2 Champion Hurdles would suggest that Binocular’s win wasn’t only visually impressive but every bit as good as the performance put up by Hurricane Fly.
Considering the opposition Hurricane Fly faced I would have thought he would have had to put up a better time than Binocular but there was nothing between them. The fact he didn’t only goes to prove something has to finish 2nd and very often it has no relevance on the winners true ability.
It was Good to Soft (good in places) when Binocular won. His time was 3m 53.80s (slow by 2.80s) The Supreme was won in a time of 3m 56.52s (slow by 5.52s)
Compare that to Hurricane Fly his race run on Good (Good to Soft in places) his time was 3m 53.71s (slow by 2.71s) compared to the Supreme which was won in a time of 3m 52.10s (slow by 1.10s)
While not the same courses the ground wouldn’t be that much different
You can take r it a step further and look at the Triumph Hurdle times run on the same course Zarkandar 3m 54.20s (fast by 1.80s) again faster than Hurricane Fly Soldatino 4m 4.90s (slow by 8.90s) Despite Barizan going off like a bat out of hell was way slower than Binocular.
Looking at all the races ran that week at Cheltenham Binocular’s time was outstanding and no other hurdler came even close to bettering it.
However Hurricane Fly’s was bested by no fewer than 5 horses in 5 other Hurdle races that week.
I’m not trying to say Binocular was a better Champion Hurdle winner than Hurricane Fly but it wasn’t an optical illusion the way he cruised through the race and left everything stone dead at the top of the hill.
Binocular on his day was nothing short of brilliant and to say he wasn’t as good as he looked and ignore what he’s been through since, using below par runs as your reason is as daft as it gets.
I’m always loath to get into a debate about times because no race is ever run twice the same way.
Just for the record, Timeform, albeit with the advantage of hindsight, gave the going for Binocular’s Champion Hurdle and for H Fly’s as Good.
I have to say I agree with the fact there would be nothing between the times of both Champion hurdles. I know two races aren’t the saem but it doesn’t change the fact that they are similar levels of form. To say that Binocular is a poor grade one winner is a bit far wide of the mark for me. Yes he’s a frustrating animal and is not worth punting at skinny odds against rubbish opposition. It’s clear he needs time to wind up to the festival. Given a fast run 2 miles round Cheltenham, he would be my idea of the only horse who get Hurricane Fly off the bridle. At the odds at this moment in time, there is only one bet to be had…and it’s not the skinny price about the fragile Hurricane Fly.
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The RP have the ground in Binocular’s year as g/s (going allow -0.44s) and gd (g.a. -0.29s) for Hurricane Run’s. Virtually every race time – on both days – supports the view that HR had the better ground.
I don’t think HF performed to his best in the CH (his first run at the course)and still won, he stepped it up another notch at Punchestown and beat Binocular out of sight.
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HF was reckoned to have run 2lb better at Punchestown according to RPR, just 1lb by the official handicapper.
Binocular hasn’t got within shouting distance of his CH winning performance since, so it’s pointless judging others by their subsequent runs against him.
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