Binocular fails to impress in Sandown prep
And while the reigning two-mile king won slightly easier than in 2010, it was more a case of ’job done’ for connections rather than something to wax lyrical about.
Indeed, for a fleeting moment anyone who had taken odds of 1-10 would have been heading for a stretcher as Tony McCoy just seemed to be niggling along with stablemate Ruthenoise still bounding merrily clear at the head of affairs.
However, a bad blunder at the last ended that one’s chance and the champion jockey was instantly back in cruise control.
Giving his assessment, McCoy said: “It wasn’t impressive, but for whatever reason it was a similar performance to last year.
“I don’t think he jumped as well as he can, but with just three other horses you are being careful in case one falls or something like that.”
Trainer Nicky Henderson was at Ffos Las where he saddled rising star Oscar Whisky to success in the William Hill Welsh Champion Hurdle, a dream result for the track’s owner Dai Walters in whose colours the six-year-old runs.
Speaking about Binocular, Henderson said: “This is not March, we’ve got six weeks to Cheltenham. He wasn’t overly impressive when he won this race last year and we have six weeks, so I hope we know where we are.
“I was talking to AP just then as I had only seen the film of the end of it - AP said he won easy enough at the end but for his hurdling you have to go faster to see him at his best.”
For his part, Oscar Whisky was visually more impressive and is all set to take his chance in the big one at Cheltenham.
Henderson said: “There’s some improvement there, Barry (Geraghty) said he gave a blow. He’ll come on a good bit and I think that (Champion Hurdle) is what we will do.”
Back at Sandown, Medermit booked a shot at the Arkle after he repelled the threat of Captain Chris in the totepool Challengers Novices’ Chase.
Apart from refusing at a fence at Huntingdon, the grey has been gradually getting his act together without quite reaching the level he was at over hurdles.
It was only on the gruelling uphill run-in that Medermit (5-2 favourite) began to lose his momentum as Captain Chris closed to half a length.
“Choc (Robert Thornton) said he got there too soon and he just idled,” reported King.
“I’m very happy – I haven’t won a Grade One for about two years.”
But King was not certain he had discovered another Triumph Hurdle winner after Kumbeshwar (11-2) chased down the huge lead of Professeur Emery in the closing stages of the Bet On toteplacepot.com Juvenile Hurdle.
Philip Hobbs and Richard Johnson brushed off the defeat of Captain Chris as Kilcrea Kim (11-2) resumed winning ways in the totescoop6 Heroes Handicap Hurdle.
Hobbs’ wife Sarah said: “He just seems to keep improving and the plan is likely to be the three-mile novice (Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle) at Cheltenham.”
Oliver Sherwood was beaming after an emotional return to the winner’s enclosure for Eric’s Charm.
“It brings tears to your eyes when you see a 13-year-old come back and win,” said the trainer after the 20-1 shot secured his third course victory under his old friend Leighton Aspell in the totesport Masters Handicap Chase.
