Binocular a brilliant Champion

Nicky Henderson added to his already impressive record in the Smurfit Kappa Champion Hurdle when saddling Binocular (9/1) to take the day one feature in superb fashion under Tony McCoy.

The J P McManus-owned gelding arrived full of running upsides the front-running Celestial Halo after the second last, and he quickened really well for McCoy in the straight to beat Khyber Kim (7/1) by three and a half lengths.

The winner's stable-companion Zaynar (15/2) was a yawning six lengths back in third, with Celestial Halo fourth.

Binocular was narrowly beaten into third behind Punjabi when favourite 12 months ago but failed to rediscover his best form in three starts earlier this season, and had been ruled out of the race last month.

It is an extraordinary change of fortune for the French-bred six-year-old having been beaten in the Fighting Fifth at Newcastle and the Christmas Hurdle at Kempton earlier in the season.

Having failed to impress when winning a minor event at Sandown last month, connections initially ruled him out of the Champion Hurdle but he was back in the reckoning after a couple of impressive pieces of work last week.

McCoy said: "When I schooled him last week it was the first time he has hurdled like we know Binocular can - like a champion hurdler. He didn't have a good build-up this year. He has not been hurdling (well) all year, he's just done something funny every time."

"I'm so happy for JP (McManus, owner). This is better than any feeling I have had from the horse. It's hard to win here and this is everything."

Henderson, winning this race for a record equalling fifth time, said: "It hasn't been an easy passage this year. When he was beaten last year, we said he'd come back and AP (McCoy) said he would win it."

"We were actually taking him out and we said he wouldn't run. We did a lot of work. We've got a fantastic team and we ironed out a few things. His jumping was the difference, and Zaynar ran a great race. Binocular deserved to win it one day."

JP McManus added: "I'd given up all hope so have only really been sweating since last week -I'd torn my tickets up. But my first thoughts after the race are with John Mulhern, who passed away yesterday. he was with us at Cheltenham every year and I just wish he was here today to see this."

The winner is a top-priced 5/1 (with Stan James and Betfred) to follow up next year, with 10/1 and bigger the remainder.

Khyber Kim's jockey Paddy Brennan was thrilled with the performance of the runner-up saying: "It went perfectly and I couldn't be more happy with my horse."

The major disappointment of the race was Noel Meade's 11/4 favourite Go Native, who travelled well for a long way but was beaten turning for home eventually finishing tenth.

Meade was understandably disappointed with Go Native's performance saying: "Paul said he dived at the second hurdle, which he did, and he never felt right after that."

"It couldn't have been his running, but unfortunately these things happen. If he comes back okay, then he'll go to Punchestown and hopefully he can come back here next year."