Tony McCoy, who continued his remarkable high-scoring form by completing a hat-trick at Huntingdon yesterday, has been snapped-up by Mick Easterby to partner one of his rare Ascot raiders tomorrow.
The Sheriff Hutton trainer sends Banker Count on the long journey south to contest the Racing Channel Handicap Chase and, with champion jockey McCoy in the saddle, punters are likely to come to the conclusion that this is an excuse to try to add to their own bank accounts.
The Easterby horses are in excellent form. Two winners last week were followed by another at Newcastle yesterday when Snugfit Rosie made a successful debut over hurdles in the hands of Russ Garritty.
Banker Count goes into battle tomorrow with one-run-one-win this season, a five lengths beating of the favourite Lord York at Doncaster last month.
He has more on his plate tomorrow, but the combination of McCoy and Easterby looks significant.
McCoy can also win the Rosling King Showcase Handicap Hurdle on Wontcostalot, trained by Mark Wilkinson, and a gelding who lacks nothing in creditable consistency.
Three races from Ascot will be shown live on BBC2, and armchair punters are in for a treat in the PML Lightning Novices' Chase, which features the reappearance of Bellator.
Venetia Williams' former high-class hurdler has won both his races over fences in the style of a quality recruit to chasing. A hat-trick looks on the cards tomorrow.
Spanish Main, a progressive performer, is likely to take plenty of beating in the Tote Exacta 1-2 Open Novices' Handicap Hurdle, while a 4lb penalty may not stop recent winner Marlborough from doubling his score in the Tote Exacta 1-2 Handicap Chase.
Up at Kelso, Carrick Troop is napped to complete a hat-trick of wins by landing the Besom Inn Handicap Chase.
Mary Reveley's former pointer has really come into his own in the last month, gaining facile wins at Market Rasen and Sedgefield. A 6lb penalty hardly looks enough to bring him grinding to a halt over this extended three miles.
The £9,000 Glendale Engineering Morebattle Handicap Hurdle offers Crazy Horse the chance to open his seasonal account.
Trained by Len Lungo, who stole the show at Newcastle yesterday by completing a 692-1 treble, Crazy Horse, successful on this card last year, is fast approaching peak form.
Runner-up to stablemate Birkdale over two-and-a-half miles at Haydock last time, he will be better suited by tomorrow's step back to the minimum trip. Robbie Supple, on board two of Lungo's winners yesterday, has the mount.
County Durham permit-holder Norman Mason, who is heading for his best season, had two winners at Doncaster on Monday and can add to his score with Damza in the Bill Butler Memorial Handicap Chase.
Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.
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