HORSE RACING: Tony McCoy has expressed his disappointment with Binocular’s performance in the Fighting Fifth Hurdle when his mount, the odds-on favourite, finished a well beaten fifth.
Tony McCoy has expressed his disappointment with Binocular’s performance in the Fighting Fifth Hurdle at Newcastle on Saturday when his mount, the odds-on favourite, finished a well beaten fifth behind Go Native.
Speaking exclusively to Betfred, the 14-time champion jockey revealed last season’s Champion Hurdle third “didn’t feel himself” and that the lack of an end-to-end gallop could not be blamed for the defeat.
“It was a very slowly-run race that obviously didn’t suit Binocular but I was still very disappointed with him,” admitted McCoy, whose views can be heard on the Betfred Talk in-store audio service from 11.30am every day during December.
“I didn’t really feel the pace of the race made that much difference to him. For some reason he just didn’t perform and didn’t feel himself. It was probably by far his worst performance since I’ve ridden him.
“Hopefully he just had an off-day for whatever reason and we’ll get him back to his best whenever he runs again.”
Binocular had been the 7/2 favourite for the 2010 Champion Hurdle before the Fighting Fifth but is now the 9/2 joint market leader with Hurricane Fly, who was also beaten on his seasonal debut at Punchestown.
With seven horses now at 10/1 or shorter for the March 16 highlight at the Cheltenham Festival, McCoy acknowledged the Champion Hurdle picture lacks clarity at present.
“I think the pace of Hurricane Fly’s race at Punchestown didn’t help him, so the Champion Hurdle looks pretty wide open at the moment,” he said.
McCoy’s presence on Betfred Talk is part of a special package of promotions during December which also includes enhanced prices, boosted SPs and a trivia competition in which customers can win £100 of shopping vouchers.
