Binocular best in Christmas cracker

BINOCULAR was made to pull out all the stops to defend his crown in a thrilling williamhill.com Christmas Hurdle at Kempton.

Nicky Henderson’s seven-year-old had ground to make up with Overturn on last month’s running of the Fighting Fifth Hurdle at Newcastle, but market confidence saw him sent off the 5-4 favourite.

With Overturn adopting his customary front-running tactics, Tony McCoy on Binocular and Ruby Walsh on the progressive Rock On Ruby stalked his every move.