Super-sub Binocular gave warning that he is a serious contender to reclaim his Champion Hurdle crown with an easy victory at Wincanton on Saturday.
The Nicky Henderson-trained 2010 Cheltenham title-holder was a late substitute for stablemate Grandouet in the Bathwick Tyres Kingwell Hurdle at Wincanton but, with Tony McCoy in the saddle, had more than enough in the tank to beat pacesetter Celestial Halo by eight lengths with Starluck back in third.
His strong performance showed that he could yet emerge as the main challenger to last year’s Champion Hurdle winner Hurricane Fly
"He's been cantering away and jumping well. He was going to work at Newbury last night but when Grandouet got injured we decided to run him here.” McCoy told Racing UK afterwards.
"I wanted him to have a race here. He could have won on the bridle, but I actually wanted him to have a blow as well and he quickened away nicely from the last. His jumping is always pretty good. I was very happy with him and he showed was in good form.
"Hurricane Fly is going to be very hard to beat at Cheltenham, but I was able to do what I wanted to do on him. I knew turning for home I'd be able to make a decision and give him a squeeze and make him have a blow. From that point of view I felt confident."
Henderson was equally pleased with the performance. "I haven't spoken to AP (McCoy) or JP (McManus) yet, but you'd have to be pleased with that. I was certainly very pleased with what I saw,” he said.
“It was never the plan to give him another run, but when Grandouet couldn't run I said to JP that it made more sense to have a run than go for a racecourse gallop. He's a class horse, he jumps really well and that was very good to see.''