CHAMPION jockey Tony McCoy, who travelled to Haydock this afternoon needing only one winner to chalk-up the fastest double-century in jumping history, faces one of the most demanding rides of his sparkling career at Kempton tomorrow.

He teams-up with the enigmatic Challenger du Luc in the £50,000 Racing Post Chase and has the difficult task of getting him to put his best foot forward.

The pair came to grief at Wincanton last time but in four previous associations this season they have finished second every time, most notably when chasing home See More Business in the King George VI Chase over this course and distance on Boxing Day.

That race saw Challenger du Luc at his best - and worst. Still on a tight rein when poised to challenge at the final fence he downed tools on the run-in as soon as McCoy got to work, and went down by two lengths.

His reluctance to put his head in front and keep it there makes Challenger du Luc a high-risk proposition for punters. But he is without doubt the most talented horse in tomorrow's line-up. It is down to his jockey to prove the point.

The televised Kempton programme is further highlighted by the Mitsubishi Perndil Trophy, in which Jack Doyle, a revelation this season, is fancied to record his fourth win off the reel.

My preference in a high-class field for the £15,000 Stakis Casinos Series Dovecote Novices' Hurdle is Polar Prospect, winner of two of this three starts this season.

The Philip Hobbs-trained gelding, most recently successful at Taunton, faces a step up in class here but is fancied to come through with flying colours.

In the £20,000 Rendlesham Hurdle, Lord Jim, unbeaten in three starts this season, may be able to master some more experienced rivals on behalf of trainer Jim Old and jockey Mick Fitzgerald.

The richest race of the day is the £80,000 Greenalls Grand National Trial Handicap Chase at Haydock. This three and a half mile marathon looks and ideal opportunity for Call It A Day to record a long overdue success.

David Nicholson's gelding has finished in the frame in all his three starts this season and was beaten only a length by Ottawa (winner again since) at Uttoxeter three weeks ago. At his best at this time of the year, Call It A Day is napped to take the honours.

The Stretton Leisure Select Hurdle, one of four races being televised on BBC1, looks a good opportunity for Red Blazer to return to the winning groove.

Henrietta Knight's highly-regarded gelding, a good winner at Uttoxeter on his reappearance just before Christmas, was far from disgraced in a hot handicap at Ascot last month.

Even Flow, out of the weights in the Racing Post Chase at Kempton, goes instead for the Greenalls Original London Dry at Haydock and will be hard to beat in the hands of Timmy Murphy.

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