Binocular another for the locals

Binocular (GB) not to be confused with his more famous French-bred namesake, got the Galway Hurdle winning partnership of Pat Flynn and Stephen Gray on the scoresheet when he denied Eoin Doyle and Shay Barry another winner with Chasse Spleen by three parts of a length in the New Years Day At Tramore Racecourse Maiden Hurdle.

Flynn was a happy man in the aftermath, saying: "That is the owner, Michael Duggan's first winner. He is from Carrick-On-Suir, Co Tipperary and that's around his fourth run for him. My two runners were third and first so it is a great start to 2010 and please God he'll win again on the flat."

He concluded jokingly with: "Hopefully he won't get mixed up with the champion hurdle horse."