A Champion show from the Comeback Kid

THAT’S the beauty of Cheltenham. For every disappointment – and there were plenty yesterday, starting with Dunguib – there is a heart-warming tale to soften the blow of those worthless dockets trampled underfoot.

Yesterday, one was a tale of redemption and it came in the Big One – the Smurfit Kappa Champion Hurdle Trophy – where Binocular went from non-runner to winner in less than a calendar month.

Beaten by half a length when starting as favourite 12 months ago, the six-year old had endured a disappointing season and trainer Nicky Henderson revealed later that he was “nine-tenths taking him out” of the line-up. Any chance of making amends for 2009 looked to be over.