RACING WEEKEND ACTION:TONY McCOY refused to get too downhearted after enduring a blank weekend in his protracted quest to achieve 3,000 British and Irish National Hunt winners.
The 13-time champion jockey was out of luck from a book of four rides at Kempton on Saturday and was unable to move from his mark of 2,998 with the meetings at Exeter, Hereford and Leopardstown being abandoned.
“It was unfortunate that almost all of the meetings I’d planned to go to last week were abandoned,” reflected McCoy.
“But I’ll keep on going as normal and hopefully will get there soon.”
Meanwhile, Denman will be freshened up and prepared to defend his Cheltenham Gold Cup crown without another outing after suffering a rare reverse on his seasonal debut at Kempton.
His 23-length defeat by Madison Du Berlais was the nine-year-old’s first loss over fences in 10 starts, and saw him deposed at the head of the betting for the blue riband.
His stablemate and 2007 winner Kauto Star replaced him as favourite, but Nicholls reports Denman in good order after his first run in 11 months.
“I’ve of the same opinion as Saturday about his run in that it was a satisfactory comeback but he does need to improve.
“The plan is no different as if he had won and we will prepare him for Cheltenham now.”
