Horse Racing

2010 Champion Hurdle winner Binocular retired

ESPN staff

December 10, 2013

Binocular has not trained this season © PA Photos

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Champion trainer Nicky Henderson has confirmed 2010 Champion Hurdle winner Binocular has been retired due to a heart problem.

The nine-year-old only ran twice last season and finished almost 30 lengths behind winner Hurricane Fly in this year's Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham in March.

Owned by JP McManus, Binocular won 11 times over hurdles - including twice in the Christmas Hurdle at Kempton. It is reported the horse has not trained this season.

"Extensive tests have been done on him and it appears he has a heart issue that is not going away so the decision was taken to retire him," Henderson told the Racing Post. "I think you would have to conclude that there was something underlying that we couldn't detect that would easily explain some of last season's performances.

"When he was right he was a very good horse, absolutely bang top class. He won a Champion Hurdle and probably should have won three."

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