Cheltenham Festival
There is currently 1 person viewing this thread.
These 88 comments are related to the topic:
Binocular?
Binocular?
sort by:
Show
per page
Replies: 88
|
By:
For me hes never ran a bad race at the festival,2nd 3rd and 1st backs that up.
When you consider he was only a 4yr old in the Supreme up against a stronger horse who proved pretty useful when fit. He ran in the CH as a 5yr old,missed part of his prep and very nearly won the race. He then came back the following year a much more mature and fit horse and bolted up. All says to me that Cheltenham in March suits him fine. |
|
By:
I don't agree that he always looks not great pre-race. He looked not well in his coat that day whereas he
had looked really well he looked great prior to beating Celestial halo very impressively at Ascot. It was disappointing that he couldn't beat celestial halo in that champion hurdle and he didn't look to fire that day to me. I've opposed Binocular in the betting w/o Hf market and up to saturday saw him as no danger to rock on ruby. But although saturdays form is probably of low merit ,he looked on very good terms with himself and it's possible the wind operation he has had since Christmas has had a significant effect on him |
|
By:
Tinkler - we'll have to dsgaree about that. Every time I've seen Bino in the flesh he's look rather dull in his coat and sweated up on his neck (at least).
I agree Bino's first CH turned out not to be great form, punjabi and Celesial weren't world beaters, but nor was it a catastrophic defeat. As Budd says he has some possible excuses in that race. I really wouldn't like to predict how Bino will do this year. If he's at his best he should place, but he's so inconsistent nowadays, who knows? |
|
By:
Ok, lets look at binoculars form here. Fighting Fifth he is never fit so never runs well. He always posts an improved run at Kempton coming 3rd(when his hurdling was poor) and winning it twice He then wins his prep race and heads to cheltenham. Now he won the champion after his 3rd at Kempton. The following year he missed cheltenham, then failed to die over 2m4f in aintree hurdle. Before having to make the running and jumping left at three hurdles in the pouring rain when hammered by Fly.
This season he had his usual fighting fifth performance, then an ok win at kempton, after which he had a breathing op and posted a much improved run in the Kingwell. If Hurricane Fly got inured I'd be hammering this horse at the festival at the 3/1 mark to beat a couple of five year olds and a couple of stayers. But as for beating Fly, I just don't think he's good enough to do it. Fly will probably go out and post an exceptional performance in the race this year as he has improved quite a bit from last year. |
|
By:
I'm not sure winning a 5 runner race in a bog at leopardstown where unaccompanied ran no race and 1,000 stars
went off too quick means he's improved since last year. Whether he needs to have improved is a different matter. I don't agree Binoculer was unfit for this years fighting fifth ,he was reported to have been fit pre-race and looked very fit in the paddock. Fitness was not offered as an excuse . The previous year at Newbury for the fighting fifth he was overweight and lack of fitness was used to excuse his defeat. |
|
By:
He has improved since last years race. He is now more relaxed and has won to grade 1s on the bridle beating grade 1 winners in the process. A faster pace in this years campion is what he nerds. They don't go fast enough for him. His ability to travel is awesome, plus while others are hard at it when he cruises up he isn't out of second gear.
Hopefully well have a fast pace in the champion this year, with three stayers and overturn hopefully there will be pace. He'll win further the faster they go. He'd beat any in this field over 2m4f as well. Awesome horse who just looks like he's peaking now. |
|
By:
would you still have this opinion if the other 2 henderson runners were still in the champion hurdle, baring in mind bino is 3rd string
|
|
By:
Binocular clearly was the first string. At worst 2nd if Spirit Son was as good as Hendo rated him.
But yes, Fly is a cut above everything. He'll win it this year and we'll see how age takes its hold next year. |
|
By:
bino 3rd string.........
 |