You watch MCCoy take a pull on him 2 out and then unleash him to a famous second champion crown now. On a serious note, Hendo sounds very sweet on Spirit Son, and I suspect given his lack of excitement about Grandouet, who is smart in his own right, suggests Spirit Son is his number one contender this season.
Can you please explain to me why he wont win? He won the xmas hurdle 2 years in a row, 1 Champion hurdle he is 10 wins from 18 runs a 56% strike rate. He is having a breathing op which NH is sure will only do him the world of good! Look at what they do for nicholls horses! Im not saying he is going to win this march. But you certainly cant write him or any one especially Grandouet off!!
I'd be more intrested to see who Barry Geraghty chooses to ride. Grandouet or Spirit Son? Grandouet as already done it this year but I suspect he'd choose the latter. I admit Henderson does seem quite keen with Spirit Son describing him as 'abit special'...
Thanks for that Toppy - an image I didn't really want but now can't shake off! If Binocular is anywhere near the lead at the last, I'll be doing an Emily Davidson to save the nation from further punishment On a more serious level - but only just - with regard to Zarkandar and his non-appearance so far, I'd be worried about the weather! We have had a VERY mild winter so far, but it's a fair bet that sometime soon we will get some decent amount of snow and ice. And with only a few weeks to go, Zarkandar could be heading to Chelts without a previous run. No matter - this years renewal is looking very tasty, and the unknown factors just add to the intrigue
I'm with you on this, Wooly. I won't be at all surprised if Binocular wins his second Champion Hurdle in March.
Im not saying he will win,. As people say Spirit Son is probably NH #1 hurdler at the mo! And I will be backing him too! But would love him to win to see what people on here say. I really dont understand what peoples problems with him are!! Afterall he is a 3 time G1 winner. He cant be that bad a horse!!
Binocular won't win because he hasn't run anywhere near good enough in 7 races since he won the race 2 years ago. And even that peformance from 2 years ago wouldn't cut it. No way was that a 172 run, name me one horse behind him that day who has proven the form to that level - Khyber Kim? Zaynar? . On debut last season he was well beaten by Peddlers Cross and Starluck in the rearranged Fighting Fifth. He came on for that to land a poor renewal of the Christmas Hurdle from Overturn (who we know doesn't act on soft) and then his usual Micky Mouse race at Sandown (beat Ruthenoise just under 2L. Yes, who? Ruthnoise. Ah, OK). After "unfortunately" missing Cheltenham he went to Aintree and was slaughtered by Oscar Whiskey and then at Punchestown Hurricane Fly laughed at him. Yes, laughed at him. Beat him on the bridle in a hack canter. And so to this season - beaten again by Overturn (OK we'll forgive him as it was his first run) before again taking a weak Christmas Hurdle by a head from Rock On Ruby, who I would rate high 150s, so maybe a 160 performance. Binocular is now a 160-165 horse at best, and no amount of breathing operations are going to improve that. Hurricane Fly has comprehensively beaten all those horses who have beaten Binocular (Oscar Whiskey, Peddlers Cross) and then went on to absolutely slam Binocular 9 lengths at Puchestown without even coming off the bridle. Binocular quite simply isn't good enough. But as I say, if you think he is please steam into him so we can get a better price on Hurricane Fly
On a side note, I've got nothing against Bonocular as an animal, beaitiful horse and hurdling action. I think the main issue with him for people is the form of that Champion Hurdle win. Khyber Kim in 2nd didn't really win him over for a few people. That said, he bounced back to form out of the blue there and this is racing, you never truly know. The Fly is the one to beat, and that's a big ask for anyone if he goes there safe and sound.
Would love Binocular to win his second Champion Hurdle, Its a massive ask but like I've said it would be foolish to dismiss him completely. I've just finished reading AP's book and he absolutely adores this horse, Theres a bit in the book where he said he had been down to school Binocular prior to Cheltenham last year and he said he was absolutely electric over his hurdles he got off and said '' This horse will take some beating if he turns up like this '' He said he was sitting in his house the Saturday before Cheltenham when JP txt him to say that Binocular was going to be scratched because he had been treated for a rash and the medication he was taking wouldn't be out of his system in time he said it hit him like a '' Ton of bricks '' he said they might not have beaten Hurricane Fly because he could be the best since Istabraq but he said '' An on-song Binocular is very very good too '' Although they were beaten by The Fly at Punchestowns, He reckons the real Binocular didn't turn up... Maybe AP in deep denial! Cheltenham is a different kettle of fish....
The thing is, the real Binocular never does turn up does he? First run of the season is always "ah, he wasn't tuned up for it". Then he wins 2 dodgy Christmas Hurdles and suddenly he's unbeatable again. He goes to Aintree and gets demolished by Oscar Whiskey - "oh that wasn't the real Binocular". Same again at Punchestown - "wasn't his true running". I just think that's his level and he won a very, very poor renewal of the Champion Hurdle. There's nothing in his performances where you would say "that was full of promise" or "that's a serious bit of form". It's all just not good enough and forever this belief that "the real Binocular" will one day come along and win doing handsprings. Enid Blyton stuff if you ask me.
Quelespirit - Hurricane Fly ran to 167 last year in the Champion according to the official handicapper. He's by no means guarenteed to improve on that or even run to that mark this time round. Don't forget he had an uninterrupted run last year and after he won the Irish Champion I backed him straight away for Cheltenham as he was obviously improving with every run. Its worried me a touch that hes been scratched from a few races already and its not the most ideal of preparations as Willie Mullins himself as already said. If he runs to his best he will be very hard to beat, But if he doesn't theres a few unexposed horses in the race who could be anything and could give the Fly a race i.e Zarkandar, Spirit Son, Grandouet. I wouldn't dismiss Binocular he is capable of a 170 run and hes that type of horse that you never know what your going to get on the day. He started the 2010 Champion Hurdle at 9/1. He made that price look absolutely ridiculous... I'm pretty sure he ran a 172 in last years race istabraq. It'll need checking but I'm confident I'm right.
We had all this last year as well by the way "oh just you wait till that real Binocular turns up at Cheltenham, they won't see which way he went"
Oddy's got it bang on here. Looking at all known form which includes the WEAK Champion Hurdle he won a couple of years ago Binocular should not be any shorter than 16/1 to win this race. You lot are throwing your cash away if you back him.
Maybe so OddDog. Hes one of them horses for Me that I like no matter how he performs... I don't actually know why! Hes got that mystique about him were theres no middle ground to his game hes either absolutely awful or absolutely electric, Its not good from a punters point of view but hes the only hurdler along with Hurricane Fly since Istabraq that as really caught My imagination as the pure 'Champion Hurdler' his action epitomises them words. His best performance by far was his Champion Hurdle win he won effortlessly and I agree it wasn't the strongest field ever assembled but you can only beat what turns up on the day! @Quel-Espirit. You are right by the way, The Fly ran to 172 in last years Champion Hurdle. His rating prior to the Champion Hurdle was 167. My mistake...
Please steam in to HF so there are better prices out there for Spirit Son & Zarkandar and of course Binocular!! lol
I just want to clarify. I'm not on the Fly yet because I see no value in him either at the current price. Just thought I'd clear that up. However, I just couldn't imagine backing any of this lot to run a 174 which is what it may take to beat him.
