McCoy is festival favourite

Record breaking rider Tony McCoy has been installed the 11-10 favourite by William Hill to land the Daily Telegraph Leading Jockey Award at next week`s Cheltenham Festival.

'McCoy has an incredible book of rides including the likes of Valiramix, Seebald, Edredon Bleu, Classified, Shooting Light and Londoner at next week`s meeting,' said Hill`s head of public relations David Hood.

'McCoy will be particularly hard to beat next week ....... so I guess nothing has changed!'

One jockey who will not be at the Festival is Philip Hide.

He misses the prestigious meeting after discovering he had fractured a bone in his left ankle.

Hide injured the ankle when unseated from Pace Stalker in a chase at Folkestone on February 19 and had hoped to return to the saddle last Saturday.

However, after schooling for Josh Gifford on Friday morning, the jockey felt some discomfort and a visit to hospital for X-rays revealed the damage was far greater than first thought.

'It`s really annoying, as I didn`t believe I had broken it,' said Hide. 'But after riding on Friday I went for X-rays and I found out I`d actually fractured it.

'It means it will be a month so I hope I should be all right to come back then.'

Moscow Flyer delighted connections in a workout at Leopardstown racecourse ahead of his bid for the Irish Independent Arkle Challenge Trophy a week tomorrow.

'It all went well - no slip ups. He went two miles round Leopardstown with Barry Geraghty and it was very satisfactory,' commented the eight-year-old`s trainer Jessica Harrington.

'It`s all systems go for a week tomorrow.'

Moscow Flyer is a general 7-1 chance for the Arkle and Mrs Harrington said: 'He`s in good form and if he gets there in one piece we are hopeful.'

Leading JCB Triumph Hurdle contender Eluna is expected to join Alvechurch trainer Ian Williams later this week.

Eluna is currently in the care of German handler Christian Von Der Recke, who has saddled the filly to land two easy victories at Warwick this season.

She is a best-priced 14-1 for Thursday week`s four-year-old championship in which she is now set to carry the colours of John Poynton, who also owns leading Smurfit Champion Hurdle hope Landing Light.

'Everything looks as though she has been sold to Ian Williams` stable,' Von Der Recke said. 'They were here on Saturday. We worked her on Saturday and she passed the vet OK.

'She worked upsides a horse, who is a winner on the all-weather, and she worked very impressively.

'It`s a shame but I have to accept the decision of the owner.

'She`s improving all the time and better ground will suit her. I think she`ll run a big race.'

Eluna was the subject of significant ante-post support for the Triumph following the news that she had been purchased by Jersey-based Poynton.

Coral slashed her odds to 11-1 third favourite from 14-1. The same firm also reported backing for Landing Light and have trimmed his odds to 4-1 from 9-2.

A slight change in the race conditions of the four-mile National Hunt Chase Challenge Cup at Cheltenham on Wednesday week has resulted in a record entry announced today of 61.

Irish-trained horses have won seven of the nine runnings of the Weatherbys Champion Bumper and account for 14 of the 46 entries in this year`s renewal.

Willie Mullins, who has won four of the last five runnings, has just one representative - Alexander Milenium, a 20-length winner on his only start at Leopardstown in December.

The home defence includes runaway Ascot winner Rhinestone Cowboy, trained by Jonjo O`Neill, and Henrietta Knight`s dual winner Alvino.

Rhinestone Cowboy and Alexander Milenium are Coral`s 4-1 joint favourites for the race.

There are 42 engaged in the Cathcart Chase Challenge Cup on Thursday, including Ceanannas Mor, a full-brother to Stormyfairweather, winner of the last two runnings.

The Tote Cheltenham Gold Cup is followed on the Thursday by the point-to-point and hunter chasers` equivalent, the Christies` Foxhunter Chase Challenge Cup.

There are 35 entered including Horus, trained by Pipe`s son David.

Gunner Welburn, winner of last season`s Martell Fox Hunters` Chase at Aintree, represents Caroline Bailey, successful in 1999 with Castle Mane.

Cheltenham leading rider betting:

William Hill: 11-10 Tony McCoy, 10-3 Mick Fitzgerald, 7-1 Norman Williamson, Richard Johnson, 10-1 Charlie Swan, Ruby Walsh, 25-1 Tony Dobbin, Adrian Maguire, Paul Carberry, Thierry Doumen, Timmy Murphy, 33-1 bar.

Coral: 5-4 Tony McCoy, 7-2 Mick Fitzgerald, 8-1 Ruby Walsh, 10-1 Norman Williamson, Richard Johnson, 16-1 Timmy Murphy, 20-1 Thierry Doumen, Paul Carberry, Charlie Swan, 25-1 Tony Dobbin, 33-1 bar.