McCoy back in groove

ALAN King has been talking about his excellent crop of bumper horses for quite a while now and it looks as if Yanworth is one of the best.

AP McCoy sat motionless as the 11/10 favourite ambled clear in the last. A bonny chesnut by Norse Dancer, he may have one more outing in a bumper before going hurdling.

Like Yanworth, first race winner Jollyallan is owned by JP McManus but trained by Harry Fry. He had little more than an exercise gallop in the novices’ hurdle, justifying prohibitive odds of 8/1 on and was initiating a double for the champion jockey.

McCoy’s three-week absence worried friends and supporters but he returned with a winner, Southfield Royale, at Fontwell on Wednesday and admitted the desire to ride 300 winners had probably kept him in the saddle when he should have rested.

Bookmakers are offering 10/1 about the 300 now, but AP, ever the realist, remarked wryly that it should be ‘a million’.

No Buts about it

THE bet365 Open Handicap Chase, a very competitive affair on the eve of the Hennessy, went to David Bridgwater’s six-year-old No Buts, who ran out an eight lengths’ winner from Sound Investment with Lamool taking third.

Outsider Loose Chips led early but soon faded after diving at the 12th and Tom Scudamore was happy to take it up on the winner soon afterwards. AP McCoy followed him on Pendra but a mistake two out, when No Buts was clearly going the better anyway, ended his hopes. This was an impressive, decisive victory and just reward for all of Bridgwater’s hard work because, The Giant Bolster apart, things have hardly been lucrative since his prolific career as a jockey.

Doubles joy

NICHOLLS started the day well when newcomer Old Guard (6/1), lightly raced for Roger Charlton, proved just too good for Alan King’s penalised Karezak in the juvenile hurdle and 3/1 chance Wilton Milan easily claimed the c/j handicap chase in the hands of Jack Sherwood. The latter is well worth watching while the claim lasts and possibly beyond.

Scudamore initiated a double on David Pipe’s Tullyesker Hill (10/1) in the Pertemps Qualifier, while Nicky Henderson struck late on with promising young hurdlers Out Sam and Different Gravey.

Lady Herries RIP

POPULAR trainer Lady Herries died peacefully in her sleep at the age of 76.

An astute trainer, she trained six Group 1 winners in four countries, mostly notably 1004 Racing Post Trophy and the 1995 Prix du Jockey-Club with Peter Savill’s Celtic Swing. “She was a marvellous person and always put the welfare of her horses first,’’ said Celtic Swing’s jockey Kevin Darley.

Henderson setbacks

HENDERSON’S stable is coming into form but he suffered two setbacks at Kempton on Monday when West Wizard was beaten at 2/9 in the novices’ hurdle and talented staying mare Polly Peachum all but came down at the last when well behind clear-cut 11/1 winner Carole’s Spirit in the Listed OLBG Mares’ Hurdle.