tracked leader, challenged after 3 out, led next, ridden and stayed on well flat
mistake 1st, chased leaders on inside, lost place 4 out, soon no chance with leaders, tailed off from next
not fluent 1st, held up in touch, driven and outpaced 3 out, soon weakened, tailed off
held up in rear in touch, switched to race wide approaching 3rd, headway 3 out, soon driven and outpaced, ridden next, 8 lengths down in 4th and well held when mistake last
led, ridden and hard pressed after 3 out, headed next, kept on same pace under pressure aproaching last, no impression flat
raced wide, tracked leaders, headway 3 out, driven and outpaced approaching next, soon ridden, kept on same pace approaching last, no impression
Binocular's main target again this year is the Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham so there's just a chance that he may not be fully wound-up for this. In any case, he finished behind Starluck in this last season and again on his reappearance behind Peddlers Cross at Newbury. Alan Fleming's six-year-old deserves to win a decent prize and should be able to pick off the front-running Overturn up the straight here but may be found wanting if it comes to a battle with KHYBER KIM. Second to Binocular in last year's Champion Hurdle, the nine-year-old is a classy performer who goes well fresh and will handle conditions better than most. Escort'men was an impressive winner on his reappearance under a big weight at Chepstow but it would be a surprise if he was good enough to follow up in this company.
Binocular (FR) 5-6fav (11-7) Held up in 4th, headway on inside to 3rd before 2 out, chased winner between last 2 and every chance last, lost 2nd and weakened flat, 3rd of 5, 7l behind Peddlers Cross (11-7) at Newbury 2m hdl G1 (1) gs in Nov.
Bocamix (FR) 66-1 (10-12) Held up in 4th, headway to track leading pair 4 out, ridden 2 out, stayed on under pressure to chase winner flat, always held, 2nd of 5, 2l behind Carlito Brigante (11-6) at Haydock 2m 4yo hdl (2) gs in Nov.
Escort'men (FR) 5-1 (11-10) Held up in rear, steady headway 4 out, soon tracking leaders, went 2nd 2 out, led before and 2 lengths ahead when blundered last, soon driven and just held on in driving finish, won at Chepstow 2m Limited hcp hdl (2) gs in Oct beating Olofi (10-8) by ns, 8 ran.
Khyber Kim 7-2 (11-7) In rear, headway approaching 3 out, left in lead 2 out, drew clear from last, won at Aintree 2m 4f hdl G1 (1) gd in Apr beating Muirhead (11-7) by 5l, 7 ran.
Overturn (IRE) 6-1 (11-6) Soon led, ridden to assert entering straight, kept on strongly, comfortably, won at Galway 2m hcp hdl gf in Jul beating Bahrain Storm (11-8) by 6l, 19 ran.
Starluck (IRE) 7-1 (11-7) Held up last, good headway to chase leaders and went left 2 out, driven to chase winner flat and stayed on but always held, 2nd of 5, 1 1/4l behind Peddlers Cross (11-7) at Newbury 2m hdl G1 (1) gs in Nov.
