McCoy can guide Tarxien to Cup triumph

It is often a case of lighting the blue touch paper and letting this fellow rip, such is Tarxien's exuberance for racing.

Inherent in that style of running means a risk or two has to be taken when it comes to dealing with unforgiving fences, but on the other side of the coin Tony McCoy's glue-like presence in the plate ensures every effort will be made to get round in one piece.

Almost exactly 11 months ago McCoy steered Tarxien to victory in an equally prestigious race, a triumph achieved on bog-like ground.

Clearly effective when the mud is flying, it seems connections' prayers have been answered since shed-loads of rain are expected for the area over the early part of the weekend.

Despite being a son of the world's undisputed leading sire, Sadler's Wells, not to mention skilful guidance from the reigning champion Flat trainer, Sir Michael Stoute, Attorney General (12.35) has been stuck in the slow lane for the past couple of years.

Thankfully, a change of scenery occasionally works the oracle in these cases, Attorney General responding in generous fashion to the efforts of his new trainer, Jim Old, by hacking up on his jumps debut at Newton Abbot.

For sure the classically-bred four-year-old now takes a giant leap in grade to contest the opening Introductory Novices' Hurdle. However, if bloodlines, combined with recent improvement, are anything to go by, Attorney General might well be capable of taking the challenge in his stride.

Aintree's Grand National fences have been dusted down in preparation for the Grand Sefton Chase, plus tomorrow's even more valuable Becher Chase. Tom George has never been one to shirk the issue and the fact that he lets his exciting young buck, Royal Beluga, loose over Liverpool's daunting obstacles speaks volumes for his prospects.

Royal Beluga (2.30) has taken a couple of runs to blow away the cobwebs but there was more than a hint to suggest concert pitch was about to be struck when he was fourth at Cheltenham six days ago.

"Royal Beluga loves jumping, that is his forte. I hope he'll take to the big fences at Aintree, he's quite careful so I think he should be all right," reports Tom.

The time has come for Howard Johnson to unleash another of his expensive purchases, Inglis Drever, bought for the Sage software magnate Graham Wylie.

Inglis Drever, who cost a cool 110,000 guineas out of Sir Mark Prescott's yard, was a very progressive middle-distance performer on the level during the summer and should have little difficulty in capturing the betfair.com Novices' Hurdle.

They say that truth is stranger than fiction and when End Of An Error dead-heated with Simlet at Newcastle nobody present could quite believe what they had just witnessed.

Well behind and giving his obstacles no respect whatsoever, End Of An Error (2.35) appeared to blunder away what little hope he had with scrappy leaps at both the third and second last flights.

But to his eternal credit the up-and-coming conditional jockey Ollie Nelmes refused to give up the apparently unequal struggle and conjured a fantastic late rally to force his mount level with Simlet right on the line.

That race was over two-and-a-half-miles, whereas in the Darlington Handicap Hurdle at Catterick he has a further six furlongs to travel.

Theoretically, the extra distance should be much in End Of An Error's favour, in which case Nelmes might not have to work quite so hard to complete a double.

Gone are the days when polytrack racing was confined to the cannon fodder of the equine world, Lingfield as ever showing the way by staging the £25,000 listed ten-furlong Churchill Stakes.

Although a multitude of turf stars take their place in the 14-runner line-up, previous course experience can still be a vital factor, swaying me in favour of Tadris (3.15).

Said to be in "good order" by her able handler, Marcus Tregonning, Tadris took to the man-made surface like a duck to water when winning in pleasing style at the track earlier this month.

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