Racing: Binocular opens Cheltenham with peerless display

Binocular put in a display of the highest calibre to lift the feature race on the opening day of the Cheltenham Festival, in Gloucestershire, southwest England.

The win so enthused champion jockey Tony McCoy that he told the Racing Post it was "the best feeling I've ever had on a horse".

Binocular had suffered a troubled preparation and was actually ruled out of the race with a muscular problem at one stage.

It was only last week that the horse was confirmed as a definite runner by trainer Nicky Henderson after passing a late fitness test.

However, Binocular showed no ill effects of the stop-start build-up and could be called the winner turning for home. He obviously appreciated the end-to-end gallop set by Celestial Halo and Zaynar.

McCoy oozed confidence running down the hill, and although there were plenty in with chances at the third-last, the race was effectively over when McCoy said go after the penultimate flight.

Khyber Kim had tracked the winner to this stage, but Binocular's gear change was spectacular and he left the runner-up in his wake.

Nigel Twiston-Davies, trainer of Khyber Kim, had no excuses but was looking forward to a rematch.

"We were beaten by a better horse and have no excuses, but I'd love another go at Binocular as I don't think he'll always be better."

The disappointment of the race was favourite Go Native, who never travelled with his usual fluency.

Trainer Noel Meade said: "He dived at the second and Paul [Carberry] said he never felt right after that. He must have hurt himself as that can't have been his true running."