held up in touch, led on bit after 3 out, readily
led, not fluent 4th, headed next, soon reminders and outpaced, kept on from 3 out
tracked leaders, challenged 2 out, soon ridden, one pace
tracked leader, led 5th,headed after 3 out, soon ridden and one pace
held up in rear and keen, weakened from 3 out
Chord, Lazy Darren and Los Nadis are all capable performers but it is impossible to oppose BINOCULAR on his reappearance and Nicky Henderson's gelding should take this before going on to bigger prizes later in the season. Captain Cee Bee is the only horse to have beaten Binocular in his short career over timber so far when running out a two-length winner of the Supreme Novices' Hurdle. That run and a subsequent success at Aintree's national meeting confirmed the four-year-old as the leading hurdler in the UK and Nicky Henderson's gelding should have little difficulty in taking this prior to further success elsewhere. Lazy Darren got no further than the second flight when last seen here in May but makes more appeal for the forecast spot than Don McCain's Chord, despite the good form of the McCain yard. Peter Monteith's Los Nadis comes here fit from the flat but needs to improve on all known hurdles form to trouble the selection, while it is hard to see Crosby Jemma filling anything other than fifth place in a contest taken to go to Binocular.
Binocular (FR) 11-8fav (11-0) Raced keenly, held up in touch, went 2nd 2 out, led on bit last, drew clear flat, easily, won at Aintree 2m nov hdl Grd 1 (1) gs in Apr beating Celestial Halo (11-0) by 7l, 10 ran.
Chord 25-1 (10-2) Chased leaders, hit 3rd, weakened after 2 out, 17th of 20, 40l behind Font (10-6) at Cheltenham 2m nov hcp hdl (2) gd in Oct.
Lazy Darren 20-1 (10-0) Held up, in touch when fell at the 2nd in race won by Blue Bajan (10-8) at Haydock 2m hcp hdl Grd 3 (1) gd in May, 24 ran.
Los Nadis (GER) 6-1 (11-4) Mid-division, headway 5th, effort 3 out, not fluent last, ridden to lead final 150 yards, stayed on, won at Cartmel 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-125 (3) gd in Aug beating Divine Gift (11-8) by 2 1/2l, 12 ran.
Crosby Jemma 50-1 (10-2) Held up towards rear, raced keenly, headway 5th, weakened approaching 2 out, 6th of 14, 21l behind Levera (11-4) at Huntingdon 2m nov hdl (3) gd in Oct.
