Green light for Plumpton

Plumpton has passed an early morning inspection and racing goes ahead, though the ground will be very testing. This is good news for all N.H. fans, and in particular for Tony McCoy, who has another chance to reach his 3,000 th winner, and for French trainer Francois Doumen, who has sent over 3 runners from his base at Lamorlaye. McCoy has not ridden a winner for 11 days, but this is mainly due to the fact that most of the meetings where he was due to ride were abandoned. Today he has 4 good rides, all expected to be among the favourites, and so has a chance of finally riding the 2 winners he needs to reach the magic figure. In the opening 4yo hurdle at 14.20 CET he partners hurdling debutant Excape for Nicky Henderson, and this 3-times winner on the flat for David Elsworth is clearly one for the short list. However on flat form, he is rated slightly inferior to two other debutants First Avenue (Gary and Jamie Moore) and Le Brocquy (Mick Quinlan/ Timmy Murphy), so he is no goo d thing, especially on this ground. Doumen´ s Pour Changer (Tom Scudamore) and Venetia Williams´ Red & White (Aidan Coleman) have already shown they can jump, which could be a big advantage. Doumen´s best chance however should be Millenium Royale (Barry Keniry), who appears to have a simple chance in the novice chase over 3 1/4 miles at 15.35. In our view, McCoy´s best chance lies with Henderson´s Miss Sarenne in the mares novice hurdle at 16.45, who has Doumen´s Quaspia (Keniry) and Pipe´s Ruthenoise (Scudamore) to beat. Restless Artaix, also for Henderson, can possibly ring up the 3,000th winner in the beginners chase at 17.20, while Jim Best´s Hello Moscow also has chances in a very open handicap hurdle at 16.10.