BINOCULAR returned to form in stunning style to win the Smurfit Kappa Champion Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival.

Seemingly ruled out of the race a month ago but reinstated last week, the 9-1 chance beat Khyber Kim with plenty in hand in the Grade 1 two-mile contest.

The six-year-old was beaten into third in this race a year ago and had not been at his best in three previous starts this season.

But, under the stewardship of champion jockey Tony McCoy, Binocular jumped impressively and pulled away from Khyber Kim after the final flight.

McCoy said: “It is great and I am delighted for the horse. I couldn’t believe he didn’t win it last year and I was absolutely gutted.

“I am delighted he has won now and hopefully he will win a few more.”

The Grand National remains the target for Character Building despite Norton trainer John Quinn’s gelding failing to shine in the William Hill Trophy.

Cheltenham was the scene of the ten-year-old’s finest hour last year with a superlative performance taking the Kim Muir Fulke Walwyn Challenge Cup.

But Character Building (12-1) didn’t feature in yesterday’s three mile Grade 3 contest, and, having initially settled in midfield, the grey was soon finding a few too good before finishing 12th in a contest won by 33-1 shot Chief Dan George.

Quinn reckoned a combination of drying ground, and facing better horses than a year ago, was the difference.

“He ran okay. I think the drying ground and better horses just found him out,” he said.

“It was just a combination of things. He will probably come on for the run, but that’s not an excuse. He didn’t jump as well as he can do because of the drying ground.

“And Aintree, yes. Aintree is a funny place and if they take to it, fine. If they don’t, it’s grand.”

Meanwhile, odds-on Irish raider Dunguib was turned over in the opening Spinal Research Supreme Novices’ Hurdle.

Philip Fenton’s heavily-backed 4-5 shot, the first of four ‘Festival bankers’, could only finish third as Menorah (12-1) held off a fast-finishing Get Me Out Of Here by a head in the two-mile sprint.

Hollins was 11th for Middleham’s Micky Hammond, while Mister Wall Street, trained by Ferdy Murphy at West Witton, was last of the 17 finishers.

Sizing Europe maintained his record of never having lost over fences when winning the Irish Independent Arkle Chase.

The 6-1 chance took charge after Mad Max hit the second last flight. Murphy’s I’m Delilah (25-1) was prominent early but ended up tenth of the 12 runners.