McCoy returns after 10-day injury break

CHAMPION jockey AP McCoy is back in action with two rides at Chepstow today after 10 days on the injury sidelines.

Despite suffering a crashing fall at Worcester earlier this month, the 19-times champion rider still managed to record his 150th winner of the campaign at Wetherby on Wednesday last week.

However, the strain of driving Goodwood Mirage out to the line aggravated a shoulder injury and the 40-year-old gave up his remaining rides.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

McCoy’s longer-than-expected break is a blow to his quest to ride an improbable 300 winners in the current National Hunt season that ends next April, but his rides today do include potentially exciting Son Du Berlais in the totepool Persian War Novices’ Hurdle for his boss JP McManus.

The French import was an effortless winner at Newton Abbot last month and immediately steps up in class. Frank Berry, racing manager to McManus, said: “Nicky is very happy with him. He’s come out of the Newton Abbot race well and he’s looking forward to running him.”

McCoy is also in the McManus colours on Regal Encore in the £40,000 totepoolliveinfo.com Silver Trophy Handicap Hurdle.

The champion could have headed to Aintree to partner the McManus-owned Uxizandre in a competitive renewal of the Betfred Monet’s Garden Old Roan Chase which also includes Sue Smith’s stalwart Mr Moonshine.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

The Alan King-trained gelding signed off for 2013-14 by beating Oscar Whisky in the Grade One Manifesto Novices’ Chase at the Liverpool track, and will be partnered by Barry Geraghty.

“We are all looking forward to getting the horse rolling again,” said the trainer. “He definitely seems to have improved since we changed the tactics and rode him more aggressively, and a left-handed track seems to suit him best, so this looks the ideal starting point and we can then think about the Paddy Power Gold Cup at Cheltenham on November 15.”

Related topics: