McCoy's National mount is Stranger

When he lines up in the Grand National on Saturday, Tony McCoy will wear the colours last seen when he set out on his ill-fated Cheltenham Gold Cup challenge on Gloria Victis. Confirmation came yesterday that his Aintree mount will be Terry Neill's Dark Stranger, winner of the 2m 4f Mildmay of Flete Handicap Chase at Cheltenham one day before the death of Gloria Victis.

Martin Pipe's other two National contenders, Art Prince and Royal Predica, will be ridden by Dean Gallagher and Glenn Tormey respectively.

Compared to that of McCoy, Pipe and Neill, Paul Carberry's Cheltenham pain, from a back injury, has probably been shortlived, and he was yesterday given the official all-clear to return to action in time for his National ride on Bobbyjo.

Two National non-runners are Even Flow, rerouted to the John Hughes Chase over the same fences 24 hours earlier, and Luzcadou, whose trainer, Micky Hammond, walked the Aintree course yesterday and decided that the ground would not be soft enough.

* Equiname's Fancy, who finished third, ended up the winner in the closing bumper at Newcastle yesterday thanks to the wayward antics of second-past-the-post Lucky Mick and the intervention of the stewards. With 150 yards left, Lucky Mick challenged leader King Of The Light but both abruptly left the course when Lucky Mick ducked violently to his left.

* Today's card at Ascot is subject to a 7.15 inspection.