McCoy lands Cheltenham feature

Tony McCoy`s rodeo act aboard Westender saved the day for backers of the heavily-supported favourite after the pair survived a monumental final flight blunder to collect the #50,000 Rehabilitation of Racehorses Hurdle at Cheltenham today.

The Martin Pipe-trained five-year-old, sent off at 11-8, seemed to have the prize at his mercy as he galloped clear approaching the last hurdle but he and McCoy appeared to get their wires crossed on jumping and disaster was only narrowly averted.

McCoy was almost out of the side door but somehow regained his composure before galvanising Westender back onto an even keel and driving him out for a two-length victory over former stablemate The French Furze.

And McCoy typically blamed himself for the error saying: 'This was just one of those things another A P McCoy mistake as I got it wrong.

'We were going a good gallop into the hurdle and he stuck at it and nearly came down but luckily he helped me back into the saddle and then picked himself up and still won.'

Pipe joked: 'It was all part of the plan actually so he wouldn`t go up the handicap again! But seriously it was a miraculous recovery by both horse and jockey.'

Westender earned a quote as low as 14-1 for the Smurfit Champion Hurdle from Coral but remains a 25-1 chance with Victor Chandler.

However, Pipe refused to be drawn on any championship tilt saying: 'He`s a progressive novice who is going nicely but it`s much too early days for Champion Hurdle talk.'

Pipe also revealed the secret of success for Westender by adding: 'His owners Matt Archer and Jean Broadhurst send him a lorry load of carrots to the yard every week and he simply loves munching is way through them.'

Westender`s win completed a memorable three-day Open meeting for Pipe and McCoy as they notched up seven successive winners with the high spot being Shooting Light`s victory in the Thomas Pink Gold Cup on Saturday.

The combination had earlier in the afternoon initiated a 39-1 treble after Tarxien made it five consecutive wins when collecting the Mike Smith Benefit Year Novices` Hurdle and Seebald had landed the Independent Newspaper Novices` Chase.

Even Pipe considered Seebald, who is owned by soccer stars Robbie Fowler and Steve McManaman, may have been a shade fortunate in beating Armaturk as Fondmort was upsides the eventual winner when slithering to a virtual halt on landing at the second last fence.

He said: 'He might have been a bit lucky as I think both horses were going well enough at the time but his experience around Cheltenham helped as he had won here at the last meeting. We are on a roll with him and can dream of coming back in March for the Arkle Chase.'