Binocular.....can he.....

Not for me, I'll be looking for the match bets and opposing him....

Course he can; if he jumps the flights like he did in 2010 he'll be hard to beat...

...but Zarkandar will beat him. Because he's immense.

The word mercurial could have been coined for Binocular...

He can.  More brilliant than the favourite but less consistent.  If they both get there then bino's a value bet at anything over 3/1 and anything over 7/4 in 'without' markets.

PERSIAN WAR 1968
KATCHIT 2008

ONLY TRIUMPH WINNERS TO WIN THE CHAMPION THE FOLLOWING YEAR .

HOW ANYONE CAN HAVE A 5YO AGAINST THE FLY IS AMAZING .

In dec 2008 hurricane fly gave GO NATIVE  a 10 length beating and was put in at 4-1 fav for the 2009 supreme - it didnt make it and go native won the race .

GO NATIVE went on to win the fighting fifth and the christmas hurdle and started fav for the champion in 2010 ,
\
HURRICANE FLY is an absolute superstar and could go on to be one of the geatest champion hurdlers of our time

how can anyone say binoc is better than the fly even on a going day the fly is the best 2m horse iv seen in  my life so far by a mile and that is about the distance he will win the champion hurdle by so far iv got 50 on at 7/4 and 200 at 1.91 and will be loading up every single penny i have on the fly winning 2 weeks tomo a beast end off the rest can watch his arse from the bottom of the hill

What blackballed said!

What was said was that Binoc's win in the Champion Hurdle was better than HF's.  Not which horse is best overall in their careers.  The official handicapper thought the performances were equal.  Racing Post Ratings, Racing Post speed ratings and Raceform time figures all agree Binocular's performance was the better one.  So it is quite easy for someone to say the Bino form is better!

But Hurricane fly will laugh at him that's the main thing

I expect he will, but HF is probably near his peak now he's 8.

yeah but thats form from 2 year ago wen has he ever ran close to that again unlike the fly who you know will turn up time after time its a machine with next to no flaws bar its had a few injurys but good god lucky for the others he did give them a we chance of winning but iv gone over the race and field over and over and just cant see anything getting close to the fly

The Fly is much more consistent for sure, but Bino has thrown in a couple of excellent perfromances in the Jan 2011 Christmas Hurdle and the 2012 Kingwell. I'd back the Fly because he's so consistent, but if Bino's on a going day he'll give him a race.

Here's a little question for you ads to mull over.If HF was trained in England and Bino was trained in Ireland what would the prices be like?I reckon more like 2/5 HF and 8/1  binocular-yes i've said it the English form is over hyped!

do you think the kingwell was that good celestial is a good horse but more of a stayer now so u would be disapointed if the champ hurdle contender couldnt beat him but could make a race of it for sure but result will  be the same the fact is punters love horses they can trust Kauto Frankle Big Bucks and the Super FLY binoc must be the most untrustworthy horse thats ever raced but the biggest thing is MCcoy has such a downer about him when he uses to love him and even after the kingwell MCcoy still says it leaves them with a fair bit to find on the fly

I've watched last year's race repeatedly and the impression I got is that it was nothing more than a moderate gallop up to 3 out from which point they gradually opened the throttle and the front two virtually sprinted clear from 2 out. There is a certain point where HF drops a gear, increases the revs and just ups his speed by a mile an hour or so and that is enough to see him home quite comfortably

It seems to me that they have a different pace profile every year but I am wondering whether it will be very similar this year because Overturn will probably try the same tactics (sit in front doing no more than necessary and try to wind it up). Most of the other jockeys will be expecting this and probably be quite happy.

However, if I were Mr Nicholls for example, I most definitely would not be happy with this pace profile at all for my horses. Both of Zarkandar and more importantly Rock on Ruby will benefit from very fast early fractions, especially with regards to jumping, and I would be doing everything to ensure a really fast run race, lung busting fractions so that only the very strongest stayers at the trip are still in contention 2 out. Only problem is how do you do that? Well, send Celestial Halo into a suicidal speed duel with Overturn from the start is one way...

If they let it turn into a 2 furlong burn up there is only one winner

theres only 0.09 of a second between them in there respective times for there champion hurdles but saying that hurricanes time will depend how fast he will be led to the last flight with binoculars being on slighly slower ground also it took the fly till the last few strides to get the finally see of peddlers one bad jump at the last might be game over for the fly

The experts who adjust for the going say Bino's time was 8 to 14 lb quicker colmaaca. 

judo, if CH sets the pace for the nicholls pair then it also plays into bino's hands!

i dont think it matters what tactics they try Solwhit team tried every tactic going to try and get him out his comfort zone and it ended in the same result every time bar once wen clearly the fly wasnt spot on and thats the only chance the other have if he turns up 90% fit but doubt that will happen and before anyone slags off solwhit think it won 8 grade ones might be wrong but not far off the faster they go the better or slower dont matter such a high cruise speed it will be wham bam thank you mam lol

Black - I don't think the Kingwell was great, no, except that Bino travelled very nicely and hurdled fluently which is what he does at his best. I don't think the Irish Champion was first class form either fwiw.

I expect HF will win this race because he's the best horse. But I'd remind everyone this is the Champion Hurdle. it is the most competetive race any of these horses will run in all season, in some cases in their lives. These are the best hurdlers, trained to the day and all trying to win. It's unwise in my experience to assume that any race like that will be a formality.

you can't worry what the others need, you can only try and do the best for yours and then see what happens

Binnocular will be 3rd or 4th at best. Hurricane Fly will win it and who comes 2nd, well there's plenty of contenders. Binnoculer has had his day, a good horse yes but he's nothing special

God this annoys me...last year's Champion Hurdle was standard; not rubbish, not brilliant, just an average Champion Hurdle, and Hurricane Fly was all out to beat a horse who the same season had beaten Starluck - proved himself to be nothing better than average - a massively unfit Binocular, and then won an egg & spoon race up at Kelso!

Last season's Champion Hurdle was billed as being brilliant because we had Hurricane Fly vs Menorah vs Binocular; Binocular didn't make the race, and Menorah ran flat! Even if you don't agree he ran flat his best piece of form that season was beating Cue Card in the International, who went on to run poorly in the Supreme!

Hurricane Fly will have to have improved to win this year's race; if you believe he has then good luck to you, but if you're expecting him to put in the same run as last year and win then sorry it won't happen. Zarkandar, Binocular and Rock On Ruby even are better horses than those he faced last year.

Yoda would say "hard to see the future is"

there are no definites that's for sure, one jumping mistake at 40 mph can change the race for anyone and it doesn't have to be your own mistake either, one decision by the jockey or another, gaps close when you need them to stay open... all sorts so it pays to keep an open mind

I have the fav 6lb clear and that should be enough to see him home with a clear passage

With the Fav 6lb clear are you taking into account the fact that Zarkandar will improve probably 5lb from his run at Newbury, and another 5lb for not coughing his guts up?

dwm - perhaps Zarkander won't be over that race because he was sick? Perhaps he's missed work? Perhaps he won't be 100% recovered? It's not a certainty he'll improve from Newbury. He'll also have a worse jockey on the day.

There's only one Horse capable of beating Hurricane fly,
Zarkandar

all my ratings are peak performance potential ratings

this means they represent the approximate highest performance the horse could achieve under ideal conditions and are only based on previous performances and dont  necessarily exactly match their previous performance.

I could show you my ratings for the CH if you would like

.....beat Thousand Stars?

I have to echo Stronts point - this is the Champion Hurdle and it's by no means a forgone conclusion.

I've just watched both races back and do feel that Binocular's is visually more impressive but I wonder how much quicker they were going with both Celestial Halo and Zaynar up front.

It actually looks turning for home like HF would win by a far greater margin than he did, but I also think that Peddlers is a serious horse and also a very brave horse. Personally i think had Ruby been less confident and gone a bit earlier then he would have won by further. Almost as if he did just what was required of him to win the race.

One point which has been neglected is who is on board both horses. AP is clearly a star but I think the Ruby factor plays massively into the hands of all HF believers and he could make the difference.

I've got my 7/4 and 6/4 NRNB on HF so am quite happy and my gut, which maybe goes against what some other feel, is that the faster they go from the outset the more it will play to the strengths of HF rather than Binocular as his cruising speed is so good.

these are my ratings - they don't align with ORs but it is the relative scores that count

HF 168
Grandouet 162
Rock on Ruby 160
Binocular 159
Zarkandar 158
Overturn 158
Brampour 155

RPR only has HF 3lb clear of Bino for interest

As Grandouet is not running you have HF 8lb clear. Seems alot to me, I hope you're right

Grandouet is just well over rated imo,He has such an inflated rating by beating overturn,
Overturn wouldn't get within 20L of Hurricane Fly.
Has also beat Kumbeshwar and Marsh Warbler,Ye,there world beaters!

thing is Markphisto horses like Rock on Ruby have not yet been given the chance to improve and the CH will be their opportunity - I see him as the main danger to the Fly if there is one because he might improve for a fast run race and he definitely has scope to improve on the jumping front and I expect him to reverse form with Bino from Xmas time

Have you taken account of how much better Bino is at Cheltenham than at Kempton judo?  No way does ROR beat him at his best track...

ROR ran a cracker at the last Festival and could run well again

it was a shame they didn't get another run into him - a fast run Betfair would have been good practice. As it turned out it was slowly run in the first mile so he didn't miss out

Bino certainly capable of big numbers though although I disagree its his favourite track

judorick

You clearly know your onions. I hope my recent contributions have suggested to you that I'm not behind the door myself. I don't understand why we are so massively at odds over this? Bino is seen as inconsistent because he needs things a certain way to show his absolute best. My contention is that his absolute best is simply fantastic. HF may be exceptional but I cannot have any other horse close to a peak Bino and I am frankly staggered that you think Rock On Ruby will turn the tables at Cheltenham on Bino.

The clock says otherwise judo.  ROR ran fine but was beaten by First Lieutenant!  Hardly enough to say conditions suit him.   And he does fail the 15 run 6 win stat too.

only because he has scope to improve but the stable form is a worry - he can find plenty if he hurdles more fluently which he hasn't so far

yeah I know the Neptune wasn't fast, he has improved since then though. Cant see him winning though without a prep run which was a shame as I think he needed match practice for his jumping

excellent debate lads....what im thinking  regarding Zarkandar is that he was sick after Newbury and put on antibiotics until 2moro and then see how he is....will this delay not hinder his preparation...Nicholls said he was being trained for Chelters so although this means his Newbury win was very impressive will he have the time to get the necessary work into him before the CH and still leave him fresh for the race  presuming he wont start to work again properly until Thursday or Friday at the earliest !!!i think the style in which Binocular disposed of Celestial was very impressive and also remembering that Paul Nicholls said Celestial would give him a race of it he must have been happy with him beforehand....also Binocular will be tuned to perfection for the CH and a strong pace will suit down to the ground.....cant wait !!

Lets hope two weeks from today Mullins nag runs like a Hurricane and will Fly home.

would this be a topic if the other 2 henderson horses were running LOL

alleged, the other 2 Henderson runners didn't have the experience to win a CH so yes, I for one would be talking about Bino for sure and I doubt I would be talking to myself.  Given the relative struggle HF had, in last year's renewal, to put away 2 inexperienced horses that needed further, it is perfectly possible that Bino would have beaten him last year if the antibiotics hadn't stopped him running.    To my mind we have 2 defending champions this year not just one.  What string was Punjabi, by the way, the year he won?

imo bino was 3rd string in the yard behind grandouet and spirit son  and if BG had the pick of the 3 horses, he,d still be 3rd string

Third string in the minds of the public who don't grasp how important experience is for this race.  I ask again, alleged, what string was Punjabi when he won?

its you talking about punjabi, were talking about the 2012 CH,and horses that are around now not from yesteryear

well he,s going to be experienced days away from his 9th birthday when he,s been on the go since he was 4, over the top now imo and next year when the youth return, he,ll prob be in the world hurdle

I'm talking about the same stable who are clearly perfectly capable of having more than one contender for the race.  They had the 6/4 favourite 3 years ago, who wasn't experienced enough to win a CH and lost out to the stable's 22/1 shot but who returned a year later,as the stable's supposed third string incidentally, to romp home.

youve obviously punted on the horse a few times and its your heart talking instead of your head mate

binocular is 8

Binocular and HF are the same age alleged, 8 years old.  Bino has had only 2 lifetime starts more than HF.  Both have been on the go since age TWO but HF made his debut 3 months before Bino so technically has been on the go the longer of the two.

binocular is 9 17th march the fly april the 5th, thought this was the bino thread not the fly, bino has 5 lengths to make up on their previous running anyway, im just pointing out that bino is or was 3rd string, thats a fact, behind the younger improovers

Oh alleged.  All horses have their official birthday on 1st January.  If you don't know that you shouldn't be betting!  If you don't believe me, check their actual birth dates on the RP site. Both 2004.  Neither are actually 8 yet.  I assume you know what year it is?

oh i know that, doh , thats where i got their dates of birth from the RP site, i think you shouldnt be betting because as soon as your heart rules your head losers it what you will be backing

If you know that  why do you think they are 9?  Do you think it is 2013 alleged?  Nothing to do with my heart, everything to do with my eyes, my interpretation of form and relative times.

i said days away from his 9th birthday, please read what is written, i dont really care that due to the sport all horses have the same birthday due to the system in place, his official birthday is 17th march FACT

his official birthday is the 17th you are right.   but he was born in 2004 so on the 17th he will be 8 not 9.   2012-2004=8

with regards zarkander:

he won the tote gold trophy off 11st by a length or so

rooster booster was beaten a hamsters pube in tote gold trophy and was then beaten in the champion hurdle the next run.

imo zarkanders form is not good enough to beat hurricane fly and binocular (at his best). im sure there will be plenty of u say yes but zarkander was sick he will improve etc etc. not for me he has 10 pounds to find and the rpr's, open ratings and tote gold trophy performance back this up. Terrible price.

when rooster booster ran in the tote gold trophy he carried 11st 12 i forgot to mention this!

thieveslikeus
28 Feb 12 13:48 Joined: 11 Jan 12 | Topic/replies: 505 | Blogger: thieveslikeus's blog
alleged, the other 2 Henderson runners didn't have the experience to win a CH so yes, I for one would be talking about Bino for sure and I doubt I would be talking to myself.  Given the relative struggle HF had, in last year's renewal, to put away 2 inexperienced horses that needed further, it is perfectly possible that Bino would have beaten him last year if the antibiotics hadn't stopped him running.    To my mind we have 2 defending champions this year not just one.  What string was Punjabi, by the way, the year he won?

Oh Dear,Do you really think HF struggled to win that CH last year?
and also,why is peddlers cross still running over 2 miles if he needs further?
peddlers cross is fast becomming the forgotten horse this year,i think a lot of people might be in for a bit of a surprise,particularly those who think Sprinter Sacre is a good thing

Hi onthesnuff.  Lots of chasers that need further go Arkle route, we are talking about the horse that won the Neptune, yes?  Can I just ask, which part of the word "relative" don't you understand?

dwm767
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27 Feb 12 23:49
"Hurricane Fly will have to have improved to win this year's race; if you believe he has then good luck to you, but if you're expecting him to put in the same run as last year and win then sorry it won't happen. Zarkandar, Binocular and Rock On Ruby even are better horses than those he faced last year."

suppose we should just wholly ignore the fact that the fly smashed binocular (and menorah for a 2nd time) out of sight at punchestown 10 months ago?

if binocular runs to the form he showed in the 2010 CH then he has a chance. but it was 2 years ago. and it's a big if what with AP admitting he isn't the same horse he was back then.

Yes,but you also mentioned the word Struggle,which you conveniently didnt bother mentioning,

more brilliant than the fly pull the other one.

Relative to Bino's CH it was a struggle but then it would be as  Bino won his CH doing handstands.

James, Punchestown irrelevant.  Bino made the running ffs and his prep was wrong, and the ground.  That was HF on home turf too 3lbs above his Cheltenham form, Bino on home turf this time.  Jockey comments don't remotely interest me either.  Form and time sir.  Form and time.

i honestly think h/ fly is head and shoulders above the rest .Yes binnocular/zarkander could win and our probably the flys biggest threats,but in all honesty if the all bring thereA game h/fly wins comfortably imo.

James, Punchestown irrelevant.  Bino made the running ffs and his prep was wrong, and the ground.  That was HF on home turf too 3lbs above his Cheltenham form, Bino on home turf this time.  Jockey comments don't remotely interest me either.  Form and time sir.  Form and time.

of course punchestown was irrelevant,as it suits your (flawed) arguement,as i mentioned to you before,you're one of these people who just make up excuses as to why a horse was beat everytime it gets beat,Has Binocular ever been beaten on merit?
not according to you,and when he gets stuffed again by Hurricane fly you will have more excuses.

i must admit,my favourite part of your last comment was That was HF on home turf
That made me laugh,i forgot Horse Racing is exactly like a Football Match,Where home form is a massive advantage

stable second jock andrew tinkler stated Binocular was his pick over grandouet before he got injured so bnoc must have been showing up very well id say even allowing for the improvement following his wind op...trainer stated today he was in same form as when routing champion hurdle previously so i personally find it extremely hard to knock him

I was thinking more in terms of going conditions and both horses maybe not being great travelers rather than having to wear an away strip and not having fan support but if you going to be a prat you are going to be a prat, not much I can do about that.

Ye that makes sense,Binocular has only ever crossed the irish sea once,as has Hurricane fly.
Both with different outcomes,
Hurricane Fly won,Binocular didnt

thieveslikeus
28 Feb 12 19:26 Joined: 11 Jan 12 | Topic/replies: 510 | Blogger: thieveslikeus's blog
James, Punchestown irrelevant.  Bino made the running ffs and his prep was wrong, and the ground.  That was HF on home turf too 3lbs above his Cheltenham form, Bino on home turf this time.  Jockey comments don't remotely interest me either.  Form and time sir.  Form and time.
it's a different course i grant you but it's the only time they've ever met and the result was fairly overwhelming. it can't be ignored like the bino supporters would like it to be.

yes he can win but i would be scared of hurricane

You honestly think Bino ran his race at Punchestown james?  You mustn't have seen the race is all I can think.

tyronesam
28 Feb 12 19:46
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stable second jock andrew tinkler stated Binocular was his pick over grandouet before he got injured so bnoc must have been showing up very well id say even allowing for the improvement following his wind op...trainer stated today he was in same form as when routing champion hurdle previously so i personally find it extremely hard to knock him


They already gave the trophy to HF's owner mate so no point Bino going...   Shame though, as is Kempton run is pretty impressive if his wind was bad don't you think?

thieveslikeus
28 Feb 12 21:20 Joined: 11 Jan 12 | Topic/replies: 512 | Blogger: thieveslikeus's blog
You honestly think Bino ran his race at Punchestown james?  You mustn't have seen the race is all I can think.

i have. a race is a race at the end of the day. it is in the formbook and still counts when comparing the two horses. as much as it sounds like you would like it not to.

not the only poor race binocular has ran either since his CH win. so can't even be discounted as a one-off.

Not bothered about one offs or two offs james, doesn't mean he cannot produce it on the day that matters!  Every reason to believe he can with the recent performances and the wind op.  Clock and form ratings from the 2 CHs say his best over that C,D and likely ground is good enough  That makes for a value bet in my book at anything like current prices.

In the last 23 runnings of the Champion Hurdle 13 horses have tried to repeat a previous win in the race in non-consecutive years. None of the 13 reached the first three and only one ran better than eighth.

Who were the 13 horses? Had they shown winning form prior to the race?

Means little by itself goth IMO.  How old were the 13?  Had they been beaten in the race the previous year?  Had they had serious injuries?  Bino isn't too old, hasn't been beaten in the race yet, hasn't had a serious injury.

thieveslikeus
28 Feb 12 21:39 Joined: 11 Jan 12 | Topic/replies: 514 | Blogger: thieveslikeus's blog
Not bothered about one offs or two offs james, doesn't mean he cannot produce it on the day that matters!  Every reason to believe he can with the recent performances and the wind op.  Clock and form ratings from the 2 CHs say his best over that C,D and likely ground is good enough  That makes for a value bet in my book at anything like current prices.

i think ultimately we agree when all is said and done. i'm knee deep in the fly antepost and bino is my biggest worry purely because if he decides to turn up he could be a big threat. i just think that ultimately he absolutely has to be at his best to have a chance. the 2 CH's he ran were a good while ago now. especially when you consider performances since then have ranged from mediocre to downright awful aside from a couple of exceptions.

The couple of exceptions were his last 2 races though.  Hence my optimism that he can produce his best again.  The subtle difference is that you believe his best makes him the danger, I believe his best makes him the winner.

hardy was fourth to sublimity

i wouldn't say the kempton performance was an exception tbh. would have likely lost if ROR doesn't clatter the last hurdle. decent performance at best and would need to improve markedly to win a CH if the fly is...well...as good as he has been for the last 2 years imo.

Tbh I threw that in to add to the debate, it's from Marmite Nick !

Kempton was a Grade 1 and he battled on well in a decent enough time in spite of having a wind problem.  Not his shining best but good enough to indicate a big run is likely back at Cheltenham.

Goth, yes I know where it came from.  I always read what he has to say, he often happens on a truth or two with his research but I always start from a position of scepticism and wait to be convinced, especially on that sort of stat.

Thing is,Binocular would need a lot of things in his favour if he has any chance of winning,
Same cannot be said of Hurricane Fly,goes on any ground,has the toe that will kill them if they crawl,has the stamina to outstay them if they go off like the clappers,He's only ever been beaten once in ireland,never in the uk (although has only ran once)

Not really snaff, he is more straightforward than people think.  He just isn't very effective when fresh.   Off a break of more than 8 weeks his form sequence is 1135342 with the 2 wins being his debut in a modest novice hurdle and a win at 1/9 at Haydock at age 4.
With a recent run his form is 121131111311.  The only defeats being the Supreme as a 4yo, the Christmas Hurdle as a 5yo where he made a bad mistake but still ran close and the Punchestown race where he had multiple excuses.   

Put another way look at his sequence of RPRs but with runs after a break put in brackets. 
(129) 138 148 157 (138) 172 (165) (158) 160 165 172 (156) 166 150+ (156) 164 (152) 166 170. 

Not only is he better without a break there is a clear pattern that he gets better with each race following a break.  Only exception being when he ran a 150 last season when winning at 1/10  in a weak contest.

Dont really buy that,His punchestown flop would suggest otherwise,He's certainly ground dependant,
HF is not,11211131111111 is Hurricane Flys life-time hurdle form,winning his last 7,on a range of different ground and courses,
id like to think Binocular turns up at his best,may very well give Hurricane Fly a race,But as ive said before,and it's only my opinion,
There's only one Horse Capable of beating HF,and that's Zarkandar,Simply because we havent seen the best of him,he still has plenty of improvement in him,id take a match bet with anyone,Zarkandar beats Binocular all day long imo

Second run back after a break, ran 164 in spite of having such an interrupted spring.  Not that much wrong with his Punchestown "flop" in that context.  Ignore the facts all you want.  Find it hilarious that you are putting up a 5yo future stayer, with so little experience, as a better alternative.  It tells me I am wasting my time and your mind is closed.

Thieves, although your words appear to be falling on deaf ears with those that are debating against you, I think you are making a great case and the more I think about it and read what you have to say the more I think there is very little between Hurricane Fly and Binocular at their best at Cheltenham. People are quick to hand out bouquet's to 'superstar' horses but if you look back at last years Champion, Hurricane looked like he could win by any amount turning for home and in the end was all out to see off Peddlers. I think class just may of got him home that day and the course, as some questioned before last year, does not necessarily play to his strengths.

Find it hilarious that you are putting up a 5yo future stayer
Why is Zarkandar a future stayer?just because you say so?
We'll see who is right and who is wrong very soon,so until then,pipe down as if you know it all,

It tells me I am wasting my time and your mind is closed.

You may want to look up the word irony

This coming from a man who refuses to take off his rose tinted Binocular Specs.

Are you American snaff?  Only you clearly do not understand the word irony.  My mind is open to all possibilities.   Possibly you have me confused with someone who has followed Binocular?  I have not.  Only time I ever had money on him was the CH 2 years ago, on day of race.  If my antepost selection Go Native had won I'd have ended up tens of thousands of pounds better off as he was in ew doubles and trebles with 2 winners later in the meeting so wasn't a particularly good result for me but he was very impressive in victory.  I think I may have found a pattern to explain this mercurial horse's performances and am exploring it within this thread.  Sorry if it doesn't fit in with your mindset.  Maybe you should seriously consider piping down yourself.

Well whatever way you look at it,Binocular certainly runs well at the festival,and his form going into the race points to another big performance.
If another beats him so be it,but Bino will be a big player imo,and whoever does beat him will have to put in a real good run for sure.
Anyway whatever happens its great to have the former champ back and looking good,and it certainly spices the race up!!

Are you gonna intrigue us with your reasoning as to why Zarkandar is a future stayer?

I suppose it would be rude not to.  Visually he seems to lack speed and stamina appears to have won him the day in both the Triumph and the Betfair.  Looks to me like he could keep going for quite a bit further.

BTW, why does it matter if Bino is ground dependant?  We know he acts on festival ground...