Binocular has sights on Cheltenham.

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CHAMPION HURDLE favourite Binocular justified every ounce of hype when destroying the field in superlative style to land the rearranged Boylesports.com International by four and a half lengths.

Sent off the even-money favourite, the Nicky Henderson-trained four-year-old carved through the five-runner field to merit a general 6-4 quote for the Cheltenham's Festival contest in March.

Runner-up Celestial Halo set a searing pace throughout, pulling 15 lengths clear in the early stages, while the rest of the field grouped up behind with Tony McCoy stalking the leader confidently aboard the winner.

Sent off at 16-1, Celestial Halo had the rest hard at work as they turned for home, but Binocular accelerated past his rivals to take control over the final flight.

11-2 chance Chomba Womba trailed home 12 lengths behind the Paul Nicholls-trained runner-up, with last season''s Champion Hurdle winner Katchit a length and a quarter back in fourth.

McCoy said: "That was a real top-class performance because the second got an unbelievably good ride. Looking up down Swinley Bottom I was more worried about him than anything else.

"He didn't surprise me winning like he has. He is going the right way, at this stage of his career he is as exciting as they come.

"I definitely wouldn't be wanting to let anyone else ride him, that's for sure. I'm delighted for the owner [JP McManus], he deserves it."

Henderson said: "It was a tense day in every single way and I'm just glad that's over.

"He was there to be tested today and Ruby set some gallop on that horse [Celestial Halo] and he got a very uncontested lead.


"I don't know whether AP was confident or just incredibly cool to let him have the lead and let the other horses bring him to him rather than go after him on his own.

"The one thing that impresses you is the speed with which he gets from one side of a hurdle to the other, it's extraordinary - he's like a ballet dancer.

"I don't know what the world makes of it but I'm happy it's over.

"Once again I'd just like to thank everybody for putting the race on.

"A while ago we thought we might not run him again but, walking round the paddock today, I thought he looked as big as a bull.

"We won't make a decision now [on another run before Cheltenham], he doesn't need practice and we'll definitely back off now.

"I'm not saying he'd improve but we've got March in sight. This wasn't a trial, we weren't playing around today, this was a real race."

Nicholls was delighted with the effort of Celestial Halo. He said: "We just haven't had a clear run with him and I couldn't get him right. But recently he has just bloomed.

"On that performance there is only one race we can go for and that is the Champion Hurdle with one run beforehand."

Katchit's trainer Alan King said: "He is not quite firing yet and I can get him better. I don't think you will see him again until Cheltenham in March."


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TAKE THE 6/4 NOW!!!!

Binocular jumps like Istabraq, says Swan


CHARLIE SWAN, who partnered the Istabraq to a hat-trick of Champion Hurdle victories, has compared the legendary hurdler to Binocular.



Like Istabraq, Binocular carries the colours of Irish owner J P McManus and Swan, now a trainer based in County Tipperary, admits he would love to partner the Nicky Henderson-trained gelding following the four-year-old's impressive victory in the Boylesports.com International at Ascot on Saturday.

"Binocular was very good. To be a champion hurdler you have to hurdle really well and that is what he does," said Swan.

"He's very quick, he has the pace and he stays - he has everything.

"He has speed and one of the best things about him is that he jumps like Istabraq - very quick and fast. If they go quick or slow it doesn't matter to him.

"He's definitely going to be the one to beat and I wouldn't mind riding him - he's some horse."

Binocular is as low as 5-4 for the Smurfit Kappa Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham thanks to his Ascot success.


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