McCoy Faces Cheltenham Choice

Tony McCoy faces a tough decision over which of JP McManus's runners he will ride in Saturday's boylesports.com Gold Cup at Cheltenham.

The champion jockey will have the pick of the James Fanshawe-trained Reveillez, whom he partnered to victory at the Festival last March, or Jonjo O'Neill's recent Ascot second Hasty Prince.

Reveillez is a 10-1 shot with the sponsors, with Hasty Prince a 14-1 chance.

'The plan is to run them both. They're both in good form and we're looking forward to it,' confirmed McManus's racing manager Frank Berry.

'Tony hasn't decided which he will ride as they've both got to get there on Saturday, but I'm sure that Noel Fehily will ride Hasty Prince if Tony doesn't.'

Reveillez is already a winner over Saturday's two-mile-five-furlong trip having taken the Jewson Novices' Handicap Chase at the Festival on only his fourth start over fences.

The seven-year-old failed to shine when falling on his seasonal bow in an intermediate event at Ascot, but Berry reports him to be none the worse for that mishap.

'He came out of his run at Ascot well, it was just one of those things. Conor (O'Dwyer, jockey) said the ground was just a bit slippery and he just lost his footing,' Berry explained.

'He was fine after it and James is happy with him.

'We would be hoping the ground stays as it is now as he wouldn't want it too heavy.'

Hasty Prince put up an eyecatching performance to finish a two-length second behind Demi Beau at the same Ascot meeting last month.

The eight-year-old was staying on at the end of the two-mile-one-furlong trip and O'Neill's charge is also ready for the challenge.

'Hasty Prince is also in good form and Jonjo's very pleased with him,' Berry added.

'He ran really well at Ascot and came out of it in good order.'

(C) PA Sport