ANYONE who deprives Tony McCoy of a winner, particularly at the Cheltenham Festival, can expect to feel the rough edge of the champion's tongue. So, perfectionist that he is, AP probably went home after last year's Supreme Novices' Hurdle, looked in the mirror, and gave himself a severe talking-to.
Forced to choose between riding either Captain Cee Bee or Binocular, both owned by JP McManus, McCoy opted for the latter and for once, got it wrong, the Captain proving too strong up the Prestbury Park hill.
"Just look at Tony McCoy's face, he
is absolutely gutted," said commentator Luke Harvey as the runner-up made the long walk back to the unsaddling enclosure.
Fast forward 12 months and McCoy and Binocular are back on Festival duty this afternoon in the Champion Hurdle, and this time there should be no errors of judgment, from either horse or jockey.
Nicky Henderson's charge has been a pretty warm order to land the hurdling crown since his comprehensive defeat of Celestial Halo, Katchit and Crack Away Jack, all of whom re-oppose here, on his latest start. In the past few days, however, the opposition to Binocular's chances seem to have been gathering momentum, which may be no bad thing since all the negative vibes should help us get a bigger price.
The doubters are worried the going may be too soft for the favourite who is built for speed, but he handled ground with plenty of cut in his native France, admittedly on the flat and not over the sticks.
More pertinently however, when Binocular made his first appearance over hurdles in this country at Ascot, the meeting had to survive an inspection after heavy rain had saturated the track. He still won.
Then there's that punishing climb towards the Cheltenham lollypop.
The selection's Supreme Novices' reverse, Binocular's only defeat in six hurdle outings, was put down in some quarters to the fact it was a hill too far for him, but he was in front shortly after the second last that day on what was McCoy's first ride on him.
Both parties have got to know each other intimately since and the champ is likely to employ more circumspect tactics on this occasion.
Of the challengers, there's a list as long as your arm of possible dangers but Katchit deserves first mention, if for no other reason than his status as current title holder has earned him that honour.
Described by jockey Robert Thornton as racing's answer to Ricky Hatton because he's so tough, Katchit has gone through a pretty miserable spell of late but his Cheltenham record, five wins and a second from six starts can hardly be dismissed lightly.
Celestial Halo and Scottish owned Osana, second 12 months ago, have to figure in the equation as well while Donald McCain's Whiteoak should make a bold bid to become only the third mare to wear the hurdling crown as she attempts to follow in the footsteps of Dawn Run and Flakey Dove.
Of the others, as much as I love him, if Harchibald wins, I'll be bungee jumping off the Dean Bridge without the elastic and for all that the pair of them make nails look soft, younger legs than either Brave Inca or Hardy Eustace possess will surely prevail.
Binocular's credentials can be challenged, as they have been, but this is the Festival so very few will go to post this week without some sort of question mark hanging over them. The fact remains he's already put most of his main rivals in their place this season and his slick jumping style can help him do so again.
If he does, an extra £200,000 will be winging its way to his owner courtesy of Boylesports, the firm having offered the bonus for any horse who won the race they sponsored at Ascot in December should they follow up in the Champion.
"He does his work well and it's not particularly flashy, but when you put a hurdle in front of him, he can either see it on a long stride, or even pop away and he'll still make two lengths doing that. That's what a real hurdler does," said Henderson, who sent out See You Then to land a hat-trick of Champion Hurdles in the 1980s.
He added: "Celestial Halo is going to be there, but we have met twice and beaten him twice and I'd rather like to think we'll beat him again.
"One of those I do seriously fear is Osana. He and Celestial Halo might think we won't get up the hill, but I'm not worried.
Celestial Halo will be bidding to give champion trainer Paul Nicholls his first victory in the contest. Last year's Triumph Hurdle winner got off the mark for the campaign in fine style at Sandown but, having twice chased home Binocular already, his owner Andy Stewart admits his runner faces a daunting task.
"We have been trounced twice by Binocular, who I think is one of the best hurdlers I have ever seen and is only five," said Stewart. "We have improved and the more cut in the ground, the better he will like it. Binocular sets the standard but we are going to try to give him a race."
As it's only the opening day of the Festival, napping a horse called I'msingingtheblues may not give out the most optimistic vibes but hopefully it won't be by theme tune by the end of the week.
BETTING SPECIALS• TOP FESTIVAL JOCKEY
5-4 Ruby Walsh, 7-2 Tony McCoy, 15-2 Barry Geraghty, Robert Thornton, 20-1 Richard Johnson, Timmy Murphy, 25-1 Paul Carberry, Denis O'Regan, 28-1 Sam Thomas, 33-1 Andrew McNamara, Davy Russell, 40-1 Paddy Brennan, 50-1 Graham Lee, 80-1 Noel Fehily.
• TOP FESTIVAL TRAINER
10-11 Paul Nicholls, 9-2 Nicky Henderson, Willie Mullins, 7-1 Alan King, 9-1 David Pipe, 25-1 Jonjo O'Neill, 28-1 Philip Hobbs, 40-1 Nigel Twiston-Davies, 50-1 Howard Johnson, Noel Meade
• SCOTTISH SPECIAL
16-1 A Scottish-trained Festival winner
4-1 A Scottish-trained Festival placed horse
• BIGGEST FESTIVAL WINNING DISTANCE
10-11 Under 18 lengths, 10-11 over
• Odds supplied by McBookie.com
