SISTER STEPHANIE can give Graham McCourt a winning start to his training career in the EBF Tattersalls (Ireland) Mares' Novices' Chase at Newton Abbot today. In the past 20 years the 36 year old has had triumphs in the Gold Cup and the Champion Hurdle among over 900 winners.
McCourt intends to keep riding at least until he has passed Fred Winter's career total of 923 winners and will have high hopes of another Cheltenham success aboard Right Win in the Champion Hurdle. But he has taken over the training licence at his mother Mary's Wantage stable and looks set for a winning start.
The mare was a fair performer over hurdles and in point-to-points. But there are also steeplechases to be won with her too judged on two outings to date in novice events.
She was second to Idiot's Lady at Towcester and led all the way over today's course to beat Court Melody by eight lengths.
Sister Stephanie is held in enough regard to have earned an entry for the Sun Alliance Chase and should win today before tackling stiffer opposition.
Her victim last month Court Melody can return to the winner's enclosure half an hour later. The eight-year-old has fared much better over fences this season than when pulled up on all three starts last term and has already won here and at Worcester. He would have given Sister Stephanie more to do last time but for a mistake at the fourth-last fence and make amends in the Best In The West Handicap Chase.
