RICHARD DUNWOODY attempts to beat the weather today by taking provisional rides on both sides of the Irish Sea. The British champion jockey is booked to be in action at frost-threatened Navan but if that meeting is called off he will switch to Newton Abbot, where racing is also subject to an early-morning inspection.

Agent Robert Parsons said yesterday: "Richard will not be jocked up in the papers for anything at Newton Abbot but the contingency plan is for him to ride Sister Stephanie in the 2.50, Ambleside in the 3.50 and Miss Nosey Oats in the 4.50."

Dunwoody will be bidding to maintain the rich vein of form which saw him land an 83 to 1 treble at Sandown on Saturday on High Baron, Atours and Trainglot.

Atours kept himself in the frame for the Champion Hurdle with a comfortable victory in the Agfa Hurdle. His odds were cut to 10 to 1 by Coral and 8 to 1 by Ladbrokes after he had completed an eight-length defeat of Land Afar on his first start under the champion jockey.

Atours was the middle leg of another rewarding visit to Sandown for Dunwoody, who opened his score with High Baron and then picked up the spare ride on Trainglot in the Tote Bookmakers Handicap Hurdle.

The withdrawals of Right Win, Killone Abbot and Moorish raised question marks over the significance of the Agfa as a Cheltenham trial. But Atours could not have done any more in winning.

Dunwoody was impressed by Atours but stressed that he is committed to Fortune And Fame, who runs in the Red Mills Hurdle at Gowran in two weeks' time, should he get to Cheltenham.

"I was happy with Atours. This win will do his mind the world of good. I was a bit worried for a couple of strides approaching the last but he picked up well when I asked him," he said.

Dunwoody was quick to claim the Grand Annual ride on High Baron after steering the grey back to winning form in the Guildford Flames Handicap Chase, in which the unlucky Jamie Osborne was shaken in a fall from Konvekta King.

As a result Dunwoody was called up for Trainglot, temporarily declared a "non-runner" on Channel 4, who continued his comeback to take the race he won three years ago by seven lengths.

Graham McCourt will officially take over the reins at his mother's Antwick Stud yard in Wantage today when he embarks on his training career with Sister Stephanie at Newton Abbot.

If Dunwoody is in action at Navan McCourt, who intends riding the end of the season, will take the mount himself.