Yorkshire's Andrew Tinkler set to ride Sign Of A Victory in Champion Hurdle

YORKSHIRE jockey Andrew Tinkler is lined up to ride the aptly-named Sign Of A Victory, one of a potential five Nicky Henderson runners in next week's Stan James Champion Hurdle.
By The Newsroom
Published 10th Mar 2016, 06:02 BST
Malton-born jockey, Andrew Tinkler.Malton-born jockey, Andrew Tinkler.
Malton-born jockey, Andrew Tinkler.

The Malton-born rider enjoys a close association with the horse’s owners Matt and Lauren Morgan – he carried their black and white colours to victory 12 months ago aboard Call The Cops in Pertemps Final at the Cheltenham Festival.

Tinkler, still one of the most under-rated jump jockeys in the country, is no stranger to the Champion Hurdle – his mount Zaynar was a far from disgraced third to the Sir AP McCoy-inspired Binocular in the 2010 renewal.

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Henderson said My Tent Or Yours is likely to be ridden by Barry Geraghty, with Mark Walsh on the fellow JP McManus-owned runner, Hargam.

Owners Simon Munir and Isaac Souede will be represented by Peace And Co and Top Notch, but retained jockey Daryl Jacob has yet to pledge allegiances.

Nico de Boinville is expected to get the leg-up on whichever horse Jacob does not ride, with Tinkler on Sign Of A Victory who was second to Cheltenian – a former Cheltenham Festival winner – in last season’s Scottish Champion Hurdle.

“Andrew Tinker will almost certainly ride Sign Of A Victory,” said Henderson, who has won the race a joint-record five times alongside Great Habon trainer Peter Easterby.

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The favourite is Annie Power who will spearhead the attempt by Irish trainer Willie Mullins to win a fourth Stan James Champion Hurdle in just six years.

The magnificent mare has been supplemented for next Tuesday’s showpiece race, the opening day highlight of the Cheltenham Festival, after injuries ruled out Faugheen and Arctic Fire, who were the first two horses home in last year’s renewal.

Nigel Twiston-Davies and his jockey son Sam – victorious at Catterick yesterday on Mo Chailin – hope, meanwhile, that The New One can win a deserved Champion Hurdle at the third attempt.

n Roxyfet, victorious at Sedgefield on Sunday, made it two wins in four days for in-form Middleham trainer Micky Hammond, and jockey Finian O’Toole, when taking the handicap chase at Catterick’s season-ending jumps meeting.

William Easterby, grandson of the trainer Peter, took the hunter chase on Carlton Ryan.

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