If you backed Binocular.....how, why?

westlife2010

Had lots of people coming over to me to tell me the backed Binocular in the Champion Hurdle. How can anyone justify backing the horse this year? (nice debate please, don't want them bullies Mid & Richie destroying this:p)

mike65

westlife2010 wrote: »

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westlife2010

mike65 wrote: »

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Nulty

You mean besides Ante Post obviously?

I can't think of a good reason. The only thing that would have made me consider it would be a very convincing and assertive comment from McCoy. Whatever he said sounded unconvincing so I left him alone. I was nailed to Solwhit - wish he hadn't run now but looks good for Aintree.

Shane732

I remember after last years Champion Hurdle I said that Bino would win this years Champion Hurdle.

When he came back this season he didn't look like same horse. I began to wonder if last year was just a flash in the pan and decided that there were more interesting horses in the race with far better form lines. I decided not to back him. Then of course he walks in.

Anyway thats my throughly interesting story as to why I didn't back him - I suppose not what you're looking as I didn't back him!!!

Colonel Sanders

after last year I thought he had a great chance this year. However his first few runs left me thinking that last year's race had left its mark, as he was only a 5yo in 09. Katchit's form tailed off too after a huge run in 08 as a 5yo. After he won that egg & spoon race at Sandown AP sounded very downbeat about a horse he'd had huge confidence in before. He was incredibly well backed at Kempton against Go Native too. Bottom line, couldn't have him, thought he was finished and/or had a problem and was proved 100% wrong (altho I didn't get much right the first two days of this year's festival!)

Cantoris

On the form book you needed to take a huge leap of faith with him. Similarly with Celestial Halo. But they clearly did a right job with him in the run up to the Festival as he didn't just win.....he sluiced up. I think the really dry ground suited him better this year than the last two years.

Gautama

I was going to back him but I didn't.
The reason I was thinking of backing is because when JP McManus was asked for a tip for Cheltenham, he said "Binocular" (Christmas at Leopardstown).
The reason I didn't back him was because of all the news stories for the last month.
That guy that put £52 on him on BetFair at 999/1 must be well happy!

smartaform

It is ASTOUNDING that the horse won...:D

And because of the circumstances of his entire preparation (back at the stables 2 weeks before the race i think?? Schooled and seriously galloped ONCE - Allegedly) i have come to 3 conclusions -

1. He was on some serious Snake Oil.
2. He's a freak
3. This years renewal was crap - This is probably the LEAST LIKELY. Punjabi in better form this year than last and i thought one of the hardest Championship races of the week!!!

That's only my opinion, but he comes back to a HOT HOT HOT 2 mile CHAMPION hurdle race and he wipes the floor with them.....

supremenovice

It actually makes perfect sense that he won, and heres why.

1. Hes a 6yo now, 5yos are still too babyish to win a Champion hence their overall poor record.
2. Lots of holes in all the others i.e Celestial Halo and Punjabi found out this year, Solwhit sick, Go Native needs a slow pace etc.
3. He had a similar profile as Punjabi the year before, disappointed in the Fighting Fifth, should have won the Christmas Hurdle when fancied and hacked up in the Champion when he got a proper run race.

RichieLawlor

supremenovice wrote: »

He had a similar profile as Punjabi the year before, disappointed in the Fighting Fifth, should have won the Christmas Hurdle when fancied and hacked up in the Champion when he got a proper run race.

None of the above describes Punjabi last year.

(1) Punjabi won the Fighting Fifth
(2) he wasn't sure to win at kempton when he fell
(3) Didnt hack up in Champion Hurdle

smartaform

Beat me to it Richie :D

In all fairness, the thing which is amazing about the win is he was IN FULL WORK for less than 2 weeks, then comes out and WINS the Champion Hurdle.
To get a horse FULLY READY for a race after a few weeks off from a short let up you are still looking at 4 FULL weeks of work.

Now, i'm sure he was in some sort of pre-training wherever he was BUT Henderson claiming to have given him ONE SCHOOLING SESSION and ONE HARD GALLOP and then come out and do what he done......

I'm looking at the Snake Oil option as the most likely.

gscully

Never mind backing him, I decided a while back that Binocular was no longer up to it, and Imperial Commander couldn't hack it out of novice company, so I removed both from my Ten To Follow list

smartaform

OUCH....

Going up the hill last lap, i couldn't believe how well Imperial was travelling....

I was a serious admirer of Binocular, I mentioned to the ole lad before the race that the 9/1 might look serious value at some time in the race but decided against backing him as I thought it too much of an actual gamble and I've copped on hugely in my betting over the last two years.

I had €100 on Denman on Betfair and was well chuffed when Kauto hit the deck (even if he p1ssed up the price was bad value in my opinion, also I rarely back Ruby on a fancied yoke), but from about 6f out I was reckoning Imperial Commander would outstay him, I think Denam to win would have to be a good few lengths clear of the rest and he never looked to be getting away at any stage in the race which did surprise me. I'd be surprised if he won a National too, despite the seriously impressive win off topweight earlier in the season I think he is not fully back to his best, I don't think we'll see him back to that at all really

smartaform

Tough to come back from a Heart Problem..... even if surgery was a success, it does take so much out of them.

Where's WHAT A FRIEND???