Racing: McCoy the realist

TONY McCoy experienced the ups and downs of a jump jockey's job on the two Martin Pipe-trained Gold Cup candidates on view here yesterday. A frustrating fall from Unsinkable Boxer in the Timeform Novices' Chase was followed 35 minutes later by a wholly satisfactory victory on Cyfor Malta in the Pillar Properties Chase. And, as if it were needed, those two races, and one earlier, provided a microcosm of the qualities that make the 24-year-old Ulsterman just about the finest of his profession ever to throw a leg over a racehorse.

Cyfor Malta's performance in beating Go Ballistic by four lengths was not enough to rattle the positions of the pair vying for favouritism at around 4-1 at the top of the Gold Cup betting lists, Teeton Mill and Florida Pearl. But the ever-prudent bookmakers chopped him to joint or clear third market choice, at a best-priced 8-1 with Coral and Hills to become the first six-year-old to take the chasing crown since Mill House in 1963.

The class of the bay gelding, having his first run since bursting on to the top-level scene by winning the Murphy's Gold Cup here back in November, was not in doubt. But yesterday's test, over just half a furlong short of the championship distance, put his stamina under scrutiny for the first time. McCoy rode him with more restraint than usual, to make absolutely sure, holding him at the back of the field of five as his stablemate Cyborgo set a sedate pace round the first circuit.

And as the horses passed the grandstands and disappeared into the murk for the last lap it was clear that Cyfor Malta was barely out of third gear. The horse himself told McCoy that all was well and on the run down the hill towards the third last the partnership moved silkily to the front. And although a little untidy at the penultimate obstacle and a little inattentive and babyish on the run from the final fence to the line the French-bred was not too hard-pressed to repel Go Ballistic's flourish. See More Business stayed on at one pace into third place six lengths behind.

Pipe confirmed that the Gold Cup would be the target, and probably the next outing, for the David Johnson colour-bearer. And McCoy certainly liked what he felt. "That was impressive," he said. "He stayed the trip without any problems. I didn't want to put him in the race too soon but all the way down the back he kept jumping himself into contention. He was a bit tight to the second-last, he was meeting it a bit quick, but he was clever and it hardly stopped him."

A faster pace and better ground will be in the good-moving youngster's favour. Yesterday it was soft and sticky, which may have contributed to the downfall of Unsinkable Boxer, who was having only his second run over fences. The former hurdler jumped the obstacle perfectly; too well, in fact, as he knuckled over his front feet and his momentum turned him over, despite desperate efforts to stay upright.

His exit left Flaxley Wood, ahead at the time, the winner. The Bob Buckler- trained gelding will return to Cheltenham for the Sun Alliance Chase, but Unsinkable Boxer, best at 20-1 with Ladbrokes, is likely to be Pipe's second representative (from 10 entries) in the Gold Cup. "Disappointing," said McCoy, "to lose it on a slip after he had jumped so well. He had picked up10 strides before the fence and was motoring."

At this stage McCoy would not side with either horse. "There are still six weeks to go before Cheltenham and anything could happen," he said, "but it's a nice choice to have."

Some cameos from yesterday stick in the mind. Going to the final open ditch on Cyfor Malta, McCoy could have been out for a Sunday afternoon pleasure ride as he casually took one hand off his reins and gave a leisurely adjustment to his goggles as his beautifully balanced horse bowled along serenely underneath him.

Or the way he contained the tanking power of the inexperienced Unsinkable Boxer early in the race without diminishing the horse's enthusiasm, and then, switching from consummate horseman to consummate jockey, instantly moved him to the outside of the field, away from possible trouble, when a rival made an error in front of him. Easy and obvious, you might think, but earlier in the day Jim Culloty picked up a seven-day ban for letting his unbalanced mount cannon into the back of another runner.

There was the reaction of a totally committed competitor as McCoy threw his whip to the ground after his fall, an incident which will have been reviewed and analysed ten-fold last night. And his judgement of pace and strength in a finish on front-running Rainwatch in the handicap hurdle.

On an afternoon littered with potential equine champions Lady Rebecca picked up the Stayers Hurdle gauntlet thrown down by Pipe's Deeno's Beano at Haydock last week in no uncertain fashion with a 20-length annihilation of Silver Wedge in the Cleeve Hurdle. And Triumph Hurdle candidate Hors La Loi III, brought over from Normandy by Francois Doumen, proved himself one of the best of his generation in the Finesse Four-year-old Hurdle as he beat Behrajan fair and square three and a half lengths.