McCoy looking forward to Binocular

Tony McCoy can hardly wait to renew his partnership with Nicky Henderson's reigning champion hurdler Binocular in the season ahead.

The six-year-old did not enjoy the best start to the last campaign, suffering defeats in the Fighting Fifth at Newcastle and Kempton's Christmas Hurdle.

He scrambled home in a minor race at Sandown in February and soon after a Cheltenham bid was all but ruled out, but connections had a late change of heart after an impressive schooling session.

He proceeded to annihilate his rivals in the Champion Hurdle and 15-times champion jockey McCoy is hoping for a smoother season this time around, with a return to Newcastle next month a possible starting point.

"Binocular is a special little horse," said McCoy, speaking at a Racing For Change media morning.

"He's been a favourite of mine from the first time I sat on him. He always had the potential to be a great horse and in the Champion Hurdle he proved it.

"How often have you seen a horse going as well as him two out in a Champion Hurdle?

"We just couldn't put our finger on what was wrong early on last season, but he obviously had a few little niggles.

"He didn't give me his normal feel until a week before the Champion Hurdle and that was the first time he felt like that since he won the Bula at Ascot (December 2008).

"He'll start off in either the Fighting Fifth or the Bula (International Hurdle), but he'll definitely run in the race he won at Sandown last year before the Champion Hurdle in March."

McCoy has also admitted Don't Push It is unlikely to repeat his feat of winning the John Smith's Grand National when he returns to Aintree next April.

The world's most famous steeplechase was one of the few races to elude the 15-times champion jockey but he finally broke his duck with an emotional triumph on Jonjo O'Neill's 10-year-old.

The fact that three-time winner Red Rum was the last horse to take the famous race more than once back in the 1970s shows what a difficult task it is, but McCoy hopes Don't Push It can still make his presence felt.

"He'll have a similar programme to last year, but it's not as if we'll be running him over hurdles to protect his handicap mark," said McCoy, speaking at a Racing For Change Media Morning.

"Phil Smith (chief handicapper) will know exactly where he is with him and he'll be framing the race around him.

"He's another year older, so it's unlikely he'll win another National, but past winners have been running well in the race in recent years.

"Comply Or Die was second after winning it and Hedgehunter ran well a few times."