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McManus the master
JP McMANUS has mastered Cheltenham once more - on Tuesday Binocular, ridden by Tony McCoy, won the feature race, the Champion Hurdle, on day one of the Cheltenham Festival. The success marks JP McManus' fourth Champion Hurdle success after the lengendary Istabraq won a hat-trick of titles. Binocular, a 9/1 shot, was back to his devastating best beating Khyber Kim (7/1) with plenty to spare while Zaynar was third.
Twelve months ago Binocular had been sent off a 6-4 favourite for the race, but failed to get the better of Punjabi. In an extraordinary development a muscle injury incurred by the horse as recently as February appeared to have ruled out Binocular, but trainer Nicky Henderson credited McManus with the decision to run.
It has been revealed that after Binocular turned in a lacklustre performance when winning at Sandown that McManus stepped in and sent the six-year-old to Ireland for a thorough veterinary overhaul under the watchful eye of John Halley, the renowned Ballydoyle and Martinstown Stud vet.
After Binocular schooled well at Nicky Henderson's Lambourn yard last week the decision was then taken to run.
JP McManus said: "I'd torn up my ticket a few weeks ago and it was only last week when Nicky got back in touch and said, 'I think we might just be able to do this'. Nicky really had him in peak condition. I'd given up all hope so have only really been sweating since last week."
The Charles Byrnes-trained Solwhit, who scoped badly last week, failed to fire in the Champion Hurdle while JP McManus' Captain Cee Bee also failed to figure in the Arkle Challenge Trophy. There was further disappointment for Limerick in the Supreme Novices' Hurdle when raging favourite Dunguib (4/5), in the hands of Boher's Brian O'Connell, finished third behind winner Menorah and JP McManus' Get Me Out Of Here.
Michael Hourigan, however, celebrated a magnificent win in the Glenfarclas Cross Country Handicap Chase when A New Story, at a whopping 25/1, saw off Enda Bolger's L'Ami and Lacdoudal to take the honours.
JP McManus' Garde Champetre emerged as a 7-4 favourite for the Cross Country Handicap Chase while Enda Bolger had saddled the last three winners of the race.
A New Story, however, broke that stranglehold in spectacular fashion under 7lb claimer Adrian Heskin.
A New Story could make a swift return to action as trainer Michael Hourigan is eyeing a run at Uttoxeter on Saturday next: "He ran a cracker at Naas when beaten by Dancing Tornedo and I was wondering, turning in today, whether he could do it because this is his first win in nearly five years.
"He needs 16 to come out to get into the Midlands National at Uttoxeter on Saturday and if that happens, he will run.'"
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Weather for Limerick
Wednesday 08 February 2012
Today
Light rain
Temperature: 7 C to 9 C
Wind Speed: 22 mph
Wind direction: South east
Tomorrow
Light rain
Temperature: 8 C to 11 C
Wind Speed: 14 mph
Wind direction: South
