RACING NEWS:TONY MCCOY faces an even stiffer task than was first expected as he goes in search of his 3,000th jumps winner at Sandown today after one of his three intended mounts was declared a non-runner.
The champion jockey endured frustration when yesterday’s scheduled meeting at Chepstow was abandoned and he will now head to Esher needing two winners from just two remaining rides.
His other mount, Afrad, has been ruled out of the totescoop6 Handicap Hurdle after going lame.
Oliver Sherwood is pleased to take advantage of a rare chance to use McCoy on Eric’s Charm in the totesport.com Master Handicap Chase. He was eighth in the Thyestes Chase at Gowran last week and the trainer said: “It was unraceable ground in Ireland really and the only concern would be that it was a bit quick this time.
“The horse thrives on racing – we have hardly put a saddle on him since last week and he has just done a bit of swimming.
“He loves Sandown and I’d hope he had a big chance. AP rode him a lot as a youngster and was second to Inglis Drever on him in a novice hurdle at Warwick a few years ago.
“He is not available very often and you can’t leave him on the subs bench if you’ve got a chance.”
In the Totesport 0800 221 221 Handicap Chase he gets the leg up on Good Company, owned by his boss JP McManus and trained by Jonjo O’Neill.
McManus’s racing manager Frank Berry said: “He jumped nicely when winning at Haydock the last day. He has gone up a bit in the weights but Jonjo has been very happy with him and he’ll be hoping for a nice run again.”
After a downbeat bulletin early in the week, Sandown’s meeting looks set to go off without a hitch.
“We’re okay,” said clerk of the course Andrew Cooper. “I have left the ground soft but good to soft on the back straight for both courses.
“It should remain dry and in terms of temperature, it was minus two overnight and we got a little bit of frost and the forecast is for about the same tonight.
“There are no inspections planned.”
McCoy has two more chances at Fontwell tomorrow, riding Burton Port for Nicky Henderson and Blue Teal for Henrietta Knight.
Knight admits she would be over the moon if McCoy could secure the landmark victory on her charge but believes it would be too good to be true.
“It really would be wonderful if he could get the 3,000 on my horse and I would love it,” said the trainer.
“Blue Teal is a horse I have always thought a bit about but he seems to have been a bit unlucky. He was interfered with and unseated his jockey last time.
“I’ve actually entered him for a race at Cheltenham but he just has to do a bit more before that.
“It would be great if he could do it for Tony on Sunday but everything one hopes for in racing never seems to work. The horse is very well and will certainly run a good race.”
Knight has so many fond memories of McCoy riding for her, particularly his victories on stable stars Edredon Bleu and Best Mate.
“Tony has won an awful lot of good races for us, obviously he won the King George and the Champion Chase but I always remember him winning the Grand Annual on Edredon Bleu as well.”
