McCoy at Catterick today

after the excitements of the weekend, it is back to normal today, with two low-level jumps meetings at Catterick and Plumpton and an even poorer all-weather card at Wolverhampton.
Tony McCoy grabbed most of the headlines yesterday, first because he won two of the top races in Ireland and the previous day at Newbury, but more because of the unexpected announcement of his impending retirement. He showed yesterday by his brilliant ride in the Hennessy Gold Cup that he is as good as ever and he cam improve his record still further when he rides at Catterick today. He has two rides, both with good chances. In the handicap hurdle at 16.10 CET he partners Mike Appleby´s Dewala, who is penalised 8 lbs for winning at Doncaster a month ago; this is quite an open race but the mare won so well that she can go in again. Half an hour later he rides John Ferguson´s Red Devil Boys in a handicap chase; Ferguson is better known for winning hurdle races with ex-flat horses, but this one looks a proper chaser and although he is up quite a bit in distance, can score here. Saint Are (Tom George/ Paddy Brennan), who has been running in better company, is the obvious danger.
At Plumptpn we hope that German-bred Seventh Sky (Charlie Mann/ Gavin Sheehan) can continue his winning run at 15.50. This half-brother to German Derby winners Samum and Schiaparelli took a long time to find his feet in the U.K. but the penny has finally dropped and he has won his two starts this year in good style. He is up in the weights and meets 3 opponents who all have decent form, but he is on such a roll that he can concede the weight.


Betting forecast:
1. Race: Landmarque - Lough Derg Walk - Harleys Max
2. Race: Ballyvoque - Nautical Twilight - Brave Spartacus
3. Race: Askamore Darsi - Who Owns Me - Cyrien Star
4. Race: Dewala - Bogside - Short Takes
5. Race: Sixty Something - Saint Are - Everaard
6. Race: Sand Blast - Halkirk - On The Vine
7. Race: Jessie Pinkman - Exclusive Tara - Dibble Bridge