McCoy close to 4000

The big story of the day is whether Tony McCoy will finally win his 4,000th race today. He is on 3999 and has two rides at Towcester, Church Field in the handicap hurdle at 15.10 CET and Mountain Tunes in the novice hurdle an hour later, both owned by JP McManus and trained by Jonjo O´Neill. We don´t recommend betting on them. as the publicity surrounding the jockey means that they will probably start at illogically short prices. In any case we don´t fancy the former, who seems high in the weights after winning 4 races earlier in the year, all on good or good to firm going. Our hope here is Market Option (Venetia Williams/ Aidan Coleman), who showed improved form at Ludlow in March and has not run since, but his stable is now in form again. Mountain Tunes has a much better chance, but this is a tricky race with several relatively unexposed runners.

Otherwise the best race of the day is the listed chase over 2 3/4 miles at 14.25 at Thurles. Quito de la Roque (Colm Murphy/ Davy Russell) must give 190 lbs here to German-bred Noble Prince (Paul Nolan/ Ruby Walsh) and Realt Dubh (Noel Meade/ Barry Geraghty),neither of whom have won for over 2 years. In theory Realt Dubh should win at these weights, but we prefer Quito de la Roque, who at least knows how to win and also stays better than the other two.

The Scottish N.H. meeting at Musselburgh is very low grade, but we hope that useful bumper winner Brijomi Queen (Nicky Richards/ Denis O´Regan) can win on his hurdling debut at 15.30. The all-weatjer flat racing at Lingfield this afternoon and Wiolverhampton this evening are also very short on Quality. All races are class 5 or 6, with tzhe exception of the 9 1/2 furlongs at handivcap at Wolbverhampton at 20.20. The three tio-weoights are all ridden by top apprentices and are all unbeaten at the track. One of them will probably win, with Chookie Royale (Keith Dalgleish/ Jason Hart) our selection - if he runs. He ran second in a similar race at Kempton last night.

Betting forecast:
1. Race: Raise Hell - Letter Of Credit - Sitcom
2. Race: Realt Dubh - Quito De La Roque - Noble Prince
3. Race: Georgie - Musawama - Drumlister
4. Race: Diyala - Catimini - Keith`s Delight
5. Race: Dun Scaith - Some Benefit - My Forever Friend
6. Race: Famous Ballerina - Ballysassian - Amazing Star
7. Race: Wrath Of Titans - Flaming Dawn - Definite Answer