 |
|
| Smurfit Kappa Champion Hurdle - Tue March 16th 2010 |
Cheltenham 3u3g2z
Binocular Just Champion
16/03/10
1 Binocular 9/1
2 Khyber Kim 7/1
3 Zaynar 15/2
12 ran
 |
Last year’s Smurfit Kappa Champion Hurdle runner-up Bincolular - who looked set to miss this year’s running after a disappointing season - not only turned up at Cheltenham this afternoon but came back to his very best under Tony McCoy to beat Khyber Kim in a great finish.
The six-year-old underwent extensive veterinary examination in both Britain and Ireland before he was confirmed at a starter in the race last week by trainer Nicky Henderson.
“When he was beaten last year we said we’d come back in 12 months’ time and win this year but we have not had an easy age,” said Henderson. “We were 9/10ths of the way to taking him out of this year’s race but a lot of work has been undertaken by a lot of people on both sides of the Irish Sea to get him here. We ironed a few things out and his jumping was the real difference today.
“I think A P (McCoy) was the first to say that he was not firing on all cylinders and we’d got to the point of writing off the season.”
The victory was Henderson’s fifth in the Smurfit Kappa Champion Hurdle, making him tly - with Peter Easterby - the most successful trainer in the race’s history.
Owner J P McManus added: “I’d given up all hope so have only really been sweating since last week - I’d torn up my tickets. They are all tough to win but I did think he looked great before the race and Nicky really had him in peak condition.
“Nicky worked the oracle and brought him back and I just wondered if it was for real. I’m so pleased because he believed so much in this horse. I knew the horse was in safe hands.
“But my first thoughts after the race are with (businessman and trainer) John Mulhern, who ed away yesterday. He was with us at Cheltenham every year and I just wish he was here today to see this.”
Tony McCoy added: “He had such a bad start to the season and didn’t jump and didn’t finish in his races. You get a bit despondent and down when that happens. After jumping two hurdles today he felt for the first time like he had when winning at Ascot last year. He was jumping like a champion hurdler should.
“Today he showed everybody what I felt that day at Ascot, he showed what a good horse he is. I thought he’d win a Supreme Novices’ and then last year’s Champion so I’m so pleased now he has won.
“When he’s like that he’s very easy and straightforward to ride. I’ve only got the feeling like this once before and I’m so happy for the horse, I’ve always thought the world of him. I’m delighted for him because I couldn’t believe he didn’t win the Champion Hurdle last year.
“J P said to go and sit on him so I went down on Wednesday and rode him as fast as I’ve ridden any horse schooling. I frightened myself we went so fast and thought that he was good enough to run. I went back to ride him on Friday but Wednesday had made my mind up.”
| Position |
Horse Trainer |
Jockey Weight |
Starting Price Beaten Distance |
| 1 |
Binocular N J Henderson |
A P McCoy 11st 10lbs |
9 - 1 Winner |
| 2 |
Khyber Kim N A Twiston-Davies |
P J Brennan 11st 10lbs |
7 - 1 3 1/2 lengths |
| 3 |
Zaynar N J Henderson |
A Tinkler 11st 10lbs |
15 - 2 6 lengths |
| 4 |
Celestial Halo P F Nicholls |
R Walsh 11st 10lbs |
7 - 1 2 1/2 lengths |
| 5 |
Starluck A Fleming |
T J Murphy 11st 10lbs |
14 - 1 Nose |
| 6 |
Solwhit C Byrnes |
D N Russell 11st 10lbs |
6 - 1 6 lengths |
| 7 |
Medermit A King |
R Thornton 11st 10lbs |
11 - 1 3/4 length |
| 8 |
Jumbo Rio E J O'Grady |
A J McNamara 11st 10lbs |
50 - 1 4 1/2 lengths |
| 9 |
Punjabi N J Henderson |
B J Geraghty 11st 10lbs |
15 - 2 1 1/4 length |
| 10 |
Go Native N Meade |
P Carberry 11st 10lbs |
11 - 4 Head |
| 11 |
Raise Your Heart Ms J Morgan |
J Cullen 11st 10lbs |
100 - 1 Neck |
| 12 |
Won In The Dark Miss S J Harty |
G Lee 11st 10lbs |
40 - 1 19 lengths |
MCCOY “I AM NOT AS MISERABLE AS YOU THINK”
Binocular, a horse who was not going to run at one stage, made one of the greatest comebacks to win the 2010 Smurfit Kappa Champion Hurdle in tremendous style under 14-time champion jockey Tony McCoy.
The rider, who is retained by Binocular’s owner J P McManus, said: “You never saw a horse go so fast as this fellow (when he was worked to see if he should run in the Smurfit Kappa Champion Hurdle following extensive tests showed that there was nothing wrong with the horse).
“I wanted to see if the real Binocular was going to show up. I rode Zaynar, the third favourite, at the same time and there was no comparison. So I was clear about which horse I wanted to ride in the Champion Hurdle.
“I am delighted for J P and Norah (McManus). Racing is so lucky to have a family with so much enthusiasm for Jump racing. I don’t know why they let me ride them but they do.
“I am not as miserable as you think am I">more]
