Binocular

more twists to come from this outfit methinks !

He totally let it slip when rambling and journalist didn't call him on it. Lame post race and it explains why he was late back in this season. Crazy bullish on Binocular and doesn't even talk 1 bit about Grandouet.

Video on sportinglife.com

Hate this outfit, dodgiest group there is.

if old Bino wins the champion Im giving up the game

Backed him last year and McCoy rode it like it was Pegasus picking up his Racing Post at the start. Wouldn't back it the year it won because of Henderson's shennanigans. I've got the rope ready and a sturdy tree picked out if this rancid outfit does me again this year.

no need to worry about him this year as his turn has past,put a line through him folks.

Whilst I'm inclined to agree I don't see how you can be so confident in that prediction.

Big, big player on decent ground.

Wherever the Fly finishes, I bet Binocular will be within three or four lengths, and... on goodish ground, I wouldn't be at all surprised if he is in front.

Yep,hes a player if ground suits,like it or not.
Normally at his best on his 2nd run of the season.

Binocular 2m hrdles form off greater than 60 day break reads

1353423

With that win being at odds of 1/9

Form off less than 60 day break

1211311113114

1 - 2 length 2nd in Supreme as 4yo
2 - 1 length 3rd to Go Native at Kempton
3 - 3rd to Fly when forced to make the running at Punchestown
4 - 4th in Champion Hurdle - where he was lame post race

Hendo even said he'll do a gallop not this sat with the rest of the team but the following sat. He needs to be busy not fresh.

Big player. Simple as that, added e/w 14/1 to my e/w 33/1

Wouldn't touch him with a barge pole personally even in light of this ''Lame'' news.

Phucking atrocious this comes to light now though as I wondered why he ran below expectations last year, particularly after his Kingwell win when connections were raving about him being back to his best.

Hmmm lame....i don't think so. Well, he wasn't during the race to me, so any lameness would have come from hitting the last, and the adrenaline would have got him through the race no problem. I think it was a case of getting as many reasons as possible to keep MTOY in the supreme.

Aye sint, vile outfit. Found out Long Run was wrong after the Paddy Power in 2010 5 months later from Mick Fitz on atr preview.

would be a little uncomfortable if i had backed bobs or grandouet  after them missing their  preps ........

I wouldn't be too worried. If they were hard to get ready they would have ran.

CV totally agree with you that Binocular is the forgotten horse and I am on at big odds...laid some off now so a free bet for me.  My worry will be the ground against others that will handle it better then he does.

Agree Foyles, 1 run for both this season and neither are very experienced either. Lack of prep run is also lack of mental sharpness which is often overlooked.

Record of well fancied horses going from Bula to Champion Hurdle is bleak reading. 4 horses went strait there in last 5 years were fav or 2nd fav and beaten.

Slightly less concern for Bobs Worth though as staying chasers are good fresh off a break. But lack of experience is the worry with him.



Shakespear, if Binocular was lame post race last year then he can run  better this term, how much is debateable, but given overturn is not here he's placed on last years form. Overpriced anyway.

Binocular is one of those horses,that imo, you never know what you are going to get.
So when hes a big price for a race,he has to be backed.

All this optimism overlooks the fact he is another year older and even if he does bounce back his current level of ability may be way short of what is required to win or even place in a Champion.

My ideal scenario would be Cotton Mill winning with Binocular trailing around at the back with Hurricane Fly. The look on Henderson's face would be priceless.

"My ideal scenario would be Cotton Mill winning with Binocular trailing around at the back with Hurricane Fly. The look on Henderson's face would be priceless."



It's Binocular for me . I have every confidence in him that he can do it.

He is one hell of a big PLACE lay for me ,he is nowhere near the horse he was that last run behind the fly was just to get a vibe for Darlan ,AP would never have got off Darlan to ride Binocular

"AP would never have got off Darlan to ride Binocular"

I agree with you there but I still think if the ground suits Binocular and he turns up in the right frame of mind and if this year AP remembers there are other horses in the race other than The Fly then he has a good chance. Just my opinion.

Not long to wait now to find out.

I love Binocular but even my wife laughed when I suggested he might win again this year (I backed him e/w nrfb mainly for the place part). Sadly I feel his best days are over.

joondalup

joondalup
20 Feb 13 19:16
Joined:
29 Nov 06
| Topic/replies: 175 | Blogger: joondalup's blog
He is one hell of a big PLACE lay for me ,he is nowhere near the horse he was that last run behind the fly was just to get a vibe for Darlan ,AP would never have got off Darlan to ride Binocular

I might be on my own but when Darlan won at xmas i did not get the feeling AP had made his mind up, not got the technique of Binocular rings a bell, we will never know now.

According to some Bino getting long in the tooth, funny, i thought he was the same age as the favourite

hOW THE fLY CAN BE 7-4 IS BEYOND ME 6-1 PRE SEASON AND BEAT SAME OLD HORSES

He's that price because the Irish keep harping on about it, and are continuing to do so in the previews. Patrick Mullins is adamant. It's a pitty nobody asks him why when HF won the champion hurdle, the time was slow by 2.7 seconds, whilst ROR was fast by 0.9s. Willie Mullins always claims HF has to be 100% to go there, yet the excuses are out. Whatever they're saying, the time doesn't lie and he's 7/4 despite being 9, and he possibly ran as good a race last season  as he did the year before. Good luck to them if they think his 3 rivals aren't better than Peddlers Cross.

Giddy up

its a pitty you cant spell!!

forget about the times lol, every race is run differently.

As is the going.

how can you crib what the fly has done since leaving france only 5 horses have finished in front of him and that is in 2 races 2 of them champion hurdle winners and last year he still had bino,zarkanda and oscrs well be hind him ,11 odd wins can ROR ,BINO OR ZARK MATCH THAT NO.
he will do for me although i held vouchers on Darlan i am now back with the FLY

ZARKANDAR wins this doing handstands imo, will take it up 4 out before everything else starts to race, or will wait until everything starts to race then try and pick them off, but either way, will take a very good one to get by this fellow if they take it up early! Different horse to last season when he was reportedly not right, different gravy this. He is my jackpot for day one and im very confident.

Hurricane Fly Horses don't regain championship races very often, 2 or 3 in last hundred years is it? So thats the fly out and will be laying my win part of my bet at 11/2 off in coming weeks if he stays sub 3 antepost, think he can place, but not the win.

Grandouet without a prep is also a worry, though have backed, and probably only hoping for a place at best now.

Binocular wont be winning at the age of 9, like the fly is a previous winner of this race, although previous winners can run well in the same races year on year out they dont win. On at 25/1, again hoping for a place at best.

Rock on Ruby has an outstanding chance this year of retaining the crown, every run this season for me he has been way under cooked. Reportedly to be having a racecourse gallop sometime next week to bring him spot on for this, on at 10/1 happy with that!

Cinders and Ashes On at 20s, this one could surprise a few, i still think he has not been right this season basically allowing to the fact he has never had his ground of good/soft and never ran in a race with a fast pace. Till now. Dun dun dun

I'm with ya

Just list the horses you haven't backed STS

OH HO HO HO

shut up shut up shut up *sticks fingers in ears and goes 'la la la la'.

I always back bino when he loses and don't when he wins. I've not backed him so get your mortgages out

Are you going to claim you backed the winner just because you backed every horse in the race?

Zarkandar for me this year

Jimmy,the more i think about it,the more i think you could well be right.

ruby,s got it wrong before denman/kauto  sam winner/zarkandar are two they spring out

Zarkandar the big danger, can't really see any holes in him this season and an improving 6 year old perfect for the race. Has shown speed, stamina and can act on any going. Nothing not to like.

Agree with the facts regarding Zarkandar, but I still have more than a niggling feeling that he's not fast enough. Yes he had a bad prep last year and is probably better now he's a year older but I don't like the way he was outpaced at a crucial stage of the race and personally think it will happen again.

I thought the same at the start of the season but Nicholls' assertion that he wasn't at his best (as he repeated throughout last season) has been borne out by this season's form and he's run 3 minutes 44 (I think) round Wincanton this year so don't think he'll be so far back this time. This race not usually won by horses who only just get 2 miles and he looks like he's just coming to himself. Can't have him out of the 3.

It's a tough one and I wouldn't be surprised to get this one wrong but I'm not sure we've had any confirmation that he's a faster horse this season. If it turned out to be a testing race I'd totally change my opinion but on decent ground (good to soft or better) I do think he might get done for toe and charge up the hill too late.

I'll be honest and say that I'm not a time man; it seems impossible to quantify exactly what it tells you as there so many different factors that affect the final time a race is won in. Obviously not a bad thing that he did a 3:44 at Wincanton but not convinced that guarantees he's a speed horse. Grandouet looked like he was running all over him at Cheltenham earlier in the season and would be better suited by quicker ground and the less demanding Old Course.

Just think Grandouet may have the opposite problem in that he needs 1 mile 6 and a flat track to be at his best. To be honest, I'd be prepared to see an outsider win this race this season, there's not really been anything outstanding in the division for a few years.

1 mile 6 on a flat track ? earth calling, booster report to reception please.

I'm here.

Actually I pretty much agree booster. I think Grandouet is a major player but the thing putting me off backing him is the concern that he'll be on vapours in the last 100 yards with others flashing home.

I can see an outsider winning. I do quite fancy Binocular and wouldn't be shocked to see something like Cinders And Ashes run much better on decent ground. Even Cotton Mill, although seemingly up against it on the ratings, might go close.

He has won 5 times at 16 or 17f, which includes winnign an International as a 5y/o, and running a very good race in attrocious ground over 17f last time, and you two think he needs 14f on a flat track ?

Before Saturday I could see Raya Star running better than his price but King's horses not really been doing it recently so don't really know where it could come from. Oscar Whisky could go really well on any ground no quicker than good but he won't go here so I think you're looking for the International 1,2,3 for the winner realistically. Otherwise a result out of nowhere.

Graeme, I did say "to be at his best" and you need everything in your favour to win a Champion Hurdle.

We've had confirmation this year that ZARK doesn't travel as well as you need to in a CH, we saw that as recently as saturday, as for this different horse to last year when he wasn't right well, he won the tote gold trophy last year and this year put up a performance on saturday that I'd have thought wouldn't have done the same, outpaced outpaced outpaced

tomdeane are you for real please please please tell mewhat you saw in ireland last time out were bino just got upsides of t.f.stars when the fly was easing down 5 lenghs clear hard held ,that makes you think he can finish in front of the fly

Just shows hoew differently we all view races.

Incidentally, his great finish last year, wasn't really all it seemed you know.

Joondalup, you really can't rate Binocular on that run as he was clearly having a sighter and doesn't like heavy ground but I agree I couldn't see him winning a Champion Hurdle.

Cos Bino always needs a run and improves a lot next time out,that would be my answer to that anyway.

I just don't know why you think he would be at his best over 14f on a flat track, when he has never run less than 2 miles before, which to me suggest he will be his best in at least 2 mile races. I'd imagine he could run in the 2m4f at Aintree aswell if things go okay.

Duffy, I also agree with you about last year's finishing effort and I guess you have to base this year's chance on him being a different horse this year. The good news is that he's 5-1 so, if you're wrong, you have another 4 bets to break even.

Graeme, he just shows a lot of speed and Geraghty was holding on to him in the International for as long as he could. Honestly don't think he'd stay 20 furlongs and not even sure what he finds off the bridle.

as i have said before ap would not of got off Darlan to ride Bino and he would have to improve a hell of a lot to beat a horse that can also improve.still a big place lay for me

There's nothing wrong with showing alot of speed. It's the Champion Hurdle after all. We will see what he find off the bridle, but you ahve to bare in mind he is a 6y/o still. It's easy to forget that, well for me anyway.

As we said earlier, doubts over all the main participants but good luck with your picks. Personally, I'll be delighted to see last year's winner repeat the feat.

33 new posts since my last visit! Loving this thread.

Loving all these Cheltenham threads.

Come on Bino!

joondalup,

As others have said, you couldn't see anything in the Irish performance to suggest Binocular could win the Champion. But I think most people knew that before the race even. He has improved hugely between his first and second runs in past seasons and is a much better horse on decent ground, and he seems to run very well at Cheltenham.

Am sounding like a broken record but just watch last year's race and be objective about it: on that running there is very little between him and Hurricane Fly (they would have been very close had Binocular not almost come down at the last and he spotted the Fly a couple of lengths throughout the race. Plus, Hendo says he came back lame).

As an interesting aside, he has been rubbished for winning a poor Champion Hurdle three years ago but the level of form is no weaker at all than that shown by Hurricane Fly when he won his renewal the following year. Binocular beat Khyber Kim by three and a half lengths when that one was an eight-year-old, coming into the race on the back of winning the Greatwood and then the International impressively. Last weekend, the 11-year-old version of that horse came back from almost two years on the sidelines to run Zarkandar within four and a half lengths. Admittedly he was getting 8lb but based on these formlines, and the knowledge of what a best-form Binocular can produce on any one day, the prices of 7/4 Hurricane Fly, 5/1 Zarkandar and 14/1 Binocular are simply wrong.

Almost sounds like a See You Then preparation but he used to win his warm up round Fontwell I think.

Binocular has the ability, if he has an excuse for his run last term then he shouldn't be 12/1 as he had quality form going into the race last year. No doubt talented, producing it is the thing he doesn't seem to consistently do.

Zarkandar being on the up is the in form horse that everyone should fear. Had to do donkey work all season, will relish getting a tow. Could keep finding for pressure.

Hurricane Fly the best since Istabraq, speed, stamina, strong traveler, slick hurdling, gutsy, gonna be very hard to beat if - as it seems - back to his best. But like all things, skinny prices are not so enticing.

Rock on Ruby doesn't look the same horse as last term, now having a racecourse gallop too. Think he's proving very hard to get "fit", Punjabi redux imo

Grandouet, missed prep, 1 run in 15 months, impossible to fancy off that kind of prep, too many problems. Never beat Zarkandar.

Countywide Flame 5yo and held on all known form

Cinders & Ashes, bar his Supreme win he is formless. Betting on him is more hope than anything.

None of the rest are up to winning this. Cotton Mill might be the pick of them.

Bino is an enigma and it's ironic that people talk about him being the forgotten horse when in fact he is the exact opposite there is more talk about him than most others what with all the dick francis stuff surrounding him, consequently he'll probably end up too short, and if all this lame stuff is to be believed I wonder why he's been trading so big for so long through the season.

I'm not too sure about the magical 2nd run of the season theory either, in the last 3 seasons he's been beat by go native, beaten overturn and scrambled home against ROR which with hindsight is ok but on the day certainly wasn't a CH winning performance.

CVByrne
21 Feb 13 18:01
Joined:
14 Mar 06
| Topic/replies: 3,526 | Blogger: CVByrne's blog

Are you going to claim you backed the winner just because you backed every horse in the race?


Erm, well actually NO! When ever i have posted on here after a race about whether i have found the [winner] of a race, and i use closed brackets for a reason, i will always post,

had winner 3rd and 4th there, nice bit of profit

If beating the winner and 2nd of the CH is not champion hurdle winning form than what is?

No doubt talented, producing it is the thing he doesn't seem to consistently do.

Thing is CV,at the festival hes always ran well,and he may well have been placed for the 3rd time in the CHurdle,but for that error at the last.

Their are some horses that i look at for the festival that are often priced up too big for their form there.
Bino is one,another that springs to mind is Albertas Run.For me when horses like that are priced up at 20 odd or 30 odd,they have to be backed.You know if they turn up on the day they will be a lot shorter,so its a trade if nothing else,but you also know they will run their race,they always do.

binocular the enigma ? has had has many bad runs as good ones cant see why that makes him value at 12/1. wud much rather have h/fly at 7/4 . i know its all about opinions and im wrong as much as the next man but im convinced it wasnt tatics/ground/track that beat the fly last year i just believe he wasnt right.The basis of this opinion was his beating of zaidpour at punchestown which was workmanlike to say the least.an on song fly would have cruised up and passed zaidpour without walsh having to row away.Bacically i agree with C Vs opinion. all will be revealed 2 week on tues !!!!

Can't have Binocular beating Hurricane Fly whatsoever. If you are betting him at 12/1 it's for 2/1 place minus the win part which is poor value.

Bino was available at odds around 30 odd,what is he now?
Thats the point im making.
Also as i said above tony,his bad runs have NEVER come at Cheltenham in March.

4th last year no?

yer could have traded out for a free bet Bally,was available at 38.

Last year he was given a poor ride,hashed the last,and still finished fairly close up 4th.
Could have been a lot closer.

budd, i take your point on the horses for courses and time of year and that is absolutley valid, i suppose the same could be said about cinders and ashes to a lesser degree. as i said all will  be revealed in a couple of weeks. We have all been in this game long enough to know that if it was that straightforward evey favourite would win so always expect the unexpected !! however its still the fly for me.

Yes you can bung cinders and countrywide flame into the horses for courses, limited evidence I know, but good ground festival, they are two winners, ROR comes into it too on that basis, grandouet you can argue likes the track too along with zarkandar, HF is 50% there with an excuse for last years defeat, so you can make an arguement for the top 7 in the betting all to be cheltenham speciailists

ttt for Brent