McCoy Rides Again 

The ongoing saga of Tony McCoy’s attempt to return to full fitness in time for the 2008 Cheltenham Festival saw a new chapter written this weekend when national hunt racing’s most successful jockey took Black Jack Ketchum’s saddle at Stratford.

McCoy and Ketchum were not partnered for a listed race, but instead for a lap and a half workout over the Stratford fences. Both seemed to handle the test with ease, unsurprising given that their opposition came in the form of an anonymous stablemate.

Once Black Jack Ketchum and his illustrious rider had succeeded in putting an informal win over their training partners in a final gallop, the small crowd that had gathered to watch Tony McCoy’s first ride since sustaining his injury in January dispersed.

The outing at Stratford bodes well for both horse and rider. Tony McCoy suffered no discomfort during the session and is optimistic about his chances of being cleared to participate in the 2008 Cheltenham Festival pending a final medical test on Thursday.

Meanwhile Black Jack Ketchum, an almost forgotten World Hurdle contender, showed that he may still be in the running come the 2008 renewal. Trainer Jonjo O’Neill has stated that Black Jack Ketchum’s participation in the World Hurdle will hinge on the quality of the ground at Cheltenham Racecourse next week.

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