Nicky goes for hat-trick

The Lambourn handler can be on the mark with King Eider in the opening novice hurdle at 1.20, Bed Bug in the handicap hurdle at 2.25 and Lord Buckingham in the closing novices' hurdle at 4.00.

Decent Flat performer King Eider will appreciate the top-of-the-ground conditions. He shaped well on his hurdles debut and first run for Henderson when fourth to Supreme Serenade on easy ground at Folkestone last month.

He's sure to have come on for that experience and, in a race that is lacking any strength in depth, he should be able to get off the mark this time.

Bed Bug also likes a sound surface and this consistent sort has fair each-way claims in what looks an open handicap hurdle, especially as this galloping course should be to his liking.

The gelding turned in arguably his best effort to date in a decent Kempton handicap last time and he may well be capable of better, especially if there's a decent pace.

Lord Buckingham shaped well on his hurdles debut behind the fairly useful Distant Prospect at Newbury on his recent hurdles debut, but will be unlucky to come up against anything of that calibre in what looks an ordinary contest.

Kick For Touch is a progressive sort over fences and looks the answer to the National Custom And Sports Car Show Chase (Showcase Handicap) over three miles.

Henrietta Knight's dual novice chase winner looked better than ever on his handicap debut after a break of nearly seven months at Newton Abbot when last seen in early November.

That form looks fairly solid and, as that was only his seventh start over fences, there may well be more improvement in the locker.

Conditions here will be ideal and he's taken to beat Sue Smith's Gottabe. At Wolverhampton Gay Kellaway's Vortex looks an interesting runner in the competitive Bet Direct Handicap over the extended mile.

A winner over a mile on turf in summer, the five-year-old ran his best race on sand when beating several subsequent winners over seven furlongs at this course in July last year.

Although he's been off the course since August, he's gone well fresh before and the eyeshield he wore to victory at this course is on for the first time since. He's taken to beat Henry Afrika.

Mutarafaa can make the most of a drop in grade by taking the Press Interactive To Bet Direct Claiming Stakes over the same mile trip.

Derek Shaw has his team in good form and his five-year-old has been anything but disgraced in fair handicaps of late on his favoured fibresand surface. He can get the better of Miss Kellaway's Daimajin.

* Tony McCoy reached a major landmark in his glittering career when Magical Bailiwick became a 2,000th success in Britain for the eight-times champion jockey at Wincanton.

The 3-1 shot was part of a superb four-timer as McCoy celebrated becoming the first jump jockey to reach that figure in his own inimitable style.

Magical Bailiwick, trained by Martin Pipe, was seeking his fourth consecutive victory.

He was always handily-placed before leading approaching the third-last of the Connaught Cup Handicap Chase and scoring by three lengths from long-time leader Tremallt.

McCoy returned to a rapturous reception from the enthusiastic West Country crowd and said: ''That's great. I'm so pleased to have got lucky 2,000 times and I hope I can ride plenty more winners like that.

''I take every day like I haven't ridden a winner before and when I go out to ride again on Monday, that is what will be in my mind.

''I'd like to ride another 2,000. The first is history, it's past, gone. It's about riding the next 2,000.

''I love my job and that is what is so good about it, even though I know I can be a bit difficult when things don't go well.

''I very much appreciate I'm lucky in as much as I have a great team behind me and I had a great grounding when coming to Britain just over nine years ago with Toby Balding, before joining Martin Pipe.''

McCoy is currently five ahead of Richard Johnson (142-137) in the race for the title.

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