Racing:Tony McCoy is still keeping the faith with Binocular, despite his second disappointing performance of the campaign in the Christmas Hurdle at Kempton.
The multiple champion jockey, retained by the Nicky Henderson-trained gelding's owner JP McManus, believes a return to his best form would see the horse have a good chance in the Smurfit Champion Hurdle, in which he was a close third last season.
Binocular's display was among a Christmas of mixed fortunes for the top team.
"We've had a few disappointments over Christmas," McCoy told Betfred Talk.
"Bellvano, and more so Binocular, were disappointing at Kempton. But I still hold out hope that Binocular will get back to the peak form he showed last season at Cheltenham.
"If he does, I don't think he'll be very far away in the Champion Hurdle.
"Captain Cee Bee looked like he was going to win at Leopardstown and could be a very smart chaser.
"Hopefully he will be aimed at the Arkle if he's OK.
"And Quantitativeeasing won nicely at Newbury and hopefully will make into a horse for one of the Cheltenham novice hurdles."
McCoy described Kauto Star's historic fourth successive victory in the King George VI Chase as "the best I've seen from a chaser".
He is convinced Paul Nicholls' superstar has the beating of stablemate and former Gold Cup winner Denman, unless the ground is soft.
"There are definitely only two runners. I think after Kauto's performance at Kempton he has raised the bar again," he added.
"So, in my opinion, brilliant though Denman's Hennessy performance was, he will need Cheltenham to be pretty testing to win the Gold Cup.
"I think Kauto's performance at Kempton was the best I've seen from a chaser and that if all goes well he will be very hard to beat."
Despite those feelings, McCoy is 1-3 with Irish bookmakers Paddy Power to ride Denman in the Gold Cup and Ruby Walsh virtually certain to stay loyal to Kauto Star after the spectacular Kempton display.
Walsh is 4-1 to ride Denman, while Sam Thomas, victorious on Nicholls' What A Friend in the Lexus Chase, is 5-1. Christian Williams is 20-1.
Paddy Power also offer 6-4 that neither Kauto Star nor Denman will win the Gold Cup.