Binocular

Champion Hurdle Contenders 2012 - Binocular

Binocular is the reigning Champion Hurdler after he won in brilliant style at the Cheltenham Festival last season and most are expecting him to be the one to beat again this time around. He is a horse that has long been touted for big things but never really produced it until his win in the Champion Hurdle back in March, it was an emphatic win for the Nicky Henderson horse and on that form he is going to be the one to watch as the latest betting suggests.

Latest Binocular Champion Hurdle 2011 Odds

He is a horse that can sometimes be difficult to get right but when he is he looks the real deal, he will once again be ridden by AP McCoy who has long been talking up the talent of Binocular. We saw Binocular make his return this season in the Fighting Fifth Hurdle at Newbury where he looked in need of the run and could only manage third place behind Peddlers Cross and Starluck. It was a poor run from the Champion but his supporters will take heart from the fact it was similar to last season before he blew the field away at Cheltenham.

Binocular bounced back with a brilliant win in the Christmas Hurdle at Kempton and he is back into favouritism for the Champion Hurdle in March. He seemed to be back to his best at Kempton and tends to improve in the spring making him a warm order for the defence of his crown at the Festival. He has backed that up with a solid if unspectacular win at Sandown in the Contenders Hurdle, it was Binocular's last run before the Festival and he will now head to Cheltenham to defend his crown. He was nowhere near his best at Sandown but it is worth noting he ran a similar race this time last season before dotting up at the Festival.