Fit and focused, Binocular finally proves his class
At one stage it looked virtually certain he would miss the race, but when starting to come right again, and then sparkling in a schooling session under Tony McCoy, he was catapulted back in.
It takes a lot to get McCoy animated, but he seemed to enjoy this and milked the moment for all he was worth
He waved to the crowd and punched the air, as he returned in triumph. And then he kissed and hugged Binocular shortly before dismounting.
Ruby Walsh grabbed many lengths at the start on Celestial Halo and tried to steal the race a second time when kicking hard down to the third last.
But he was only in front on sufferance and a sweet-moving Binocular joined him over two out.
At the back of the obstacle, rather astonishingly, McCoy took a pull, filling Binocular’s lungs with air.
And then he was ready to make the decisive move. Unlike last year, when he rode his charge to get the trip, this time there were no such doubts.
He drove Binocular to the front off the home turn and then began the long, punishing surge for the judge.
The six-year-old never flinched and, though hanging slightly towards the stands on the run in, was comfortably clear of Khyber Kim at the line.
Binocular underwent extensive veterinary surgery in both Britain and Ireland, before being given the green light last week by Henderson.
“We have not had an easy passage with him”, said Henderson. “We were 9/10ths of the way to taking him out, but a lot of work was undertaken on both sides of the Irish Sea. We ironed a few things out and his jumping was the real difference today.
“I think AP was the first to say he was not firing on all cylinders and we had got to the point of writing off the season.”
It was a fifth Champion Hurdle for Henderson, joining Peter Easterby as the most successful trainer in the history of the race.
McCoy said: “I am delighted for JP (McManus, owner) and Noreen (McManus’ wife). Racing is so lucky to have a family with so much enthusiasm for the game. I don’t know why they let me ride them, but they do.
“I think, at long last, the real Binocular showed up. I schooled him at Nicky’s on Wednesday and wouldn’t have thought he has seen another horse go as fast over five hurdles.
“Today, after two hurdles, I felt it was the first time I was riding the horse I rode at Ascot last season.
“I was just hoping that he would come right, I am so happy for JP and Noreen. This was a better feeling than I have ever had on a horse.”
In retrospect, Solwhit surely shouldn’t have run, having scoped badly on the lead-in to the race. He moved well enough for a lot of the journey, but was struggling down hill and could only manage sixth.
Go Native, chasing a £1 million bonus, could hardly have performed worse. He did make a mistake at the second, but never promised at any stage to be competitive. Trainer, Noel Meade, however, reported: “Paul (Carberry) said he was lucky to stand up at the second, he sort of dived at it, and never felt right after that.”
