Murphy: Binocular 'one to beat'
Brave Inca’s trainer Colm Murphy is another to have taken serious notice of Binocular’s awesome performance on Saturday.
Murphy’s old stager won the Champion Hurdle in 2006 and was second in 2007 but is a long way adrift of Nicky Henderson’s four-year-old in the betting for next year’s renewal after he ran away with the Boylesports.com International at Ascot.
Brave Inca made a pleasing return from an 18-month absence to be second in last month’s Hatton’s Grace Hurdle and will contest the Leopardstown Golf Centre December Festival Hurdle on December 29 instead of several other entries over the Christmas period.
“He runs on the Monday and everything’s going well, touch-wood,” said Murphy.
“I’ll just give him a canter on Wednesday now.”
Reflecting on Binocular, who is the short-priced favourite for Cheltenham next March, the Wexford trainer added: “He was very, very impressive.
“If I was sent him, I wouldn’t be complaining, that’s for sure.
“He looks the one to beat at this stage.”
