TONY MCCOY'S hopes of riding at the Cheltenham Festival were considerably raised yesterday by a positive bulletin on the injuries he sustained in a fall at Wincanton.

An examination of the bones he broke in a heavy tumble from Speedy Snaps gem gave the champion jockey "every reason to hope he will be ready for Cheltenham" in just over six weeks time.

It was initially feared that runaway British championship leader McCoy, who suffered fractures in his left shoulder, faced a lengthy lay-off and would miss the biggest jumps meeting of the year. But following a visit to specialist Michael Foy in Swindon, trainer Toby Balding said the prognosis was "not at all gloomy".

"I've not heard directly from Tony but I understand he has every reason to hope he will be ready for Cheltenham," said the trainer. "He has got to go back to be looked at again in about three weeks time but this must be good news for him."

McCoy, 65 winners clear of Adrian Maguire in the defence of his title, has enjoyed a virtually injury free rise to the top. A prolific winning jockey who shattered Peter Scudamore's record for the fastest loo earlier this season, all he has lacked is a big race success.

A link-up with Martin Pipe, strengthened by his split with Paul Nicholls earlier in the week, looked sure to supply a source of such triumphs. And even yesterday morning, before leaving home, he recommended Cheltenham-bound Make A Stand, Cyborgo and Or Royal as his three horses to follow on the trainer's Pipeline.

Since then McCoy has not been in contact with his agent Dave Roberts, like many others eager to learn the details of the medical bulletin.