River to Flow at Newcastle With Denis O'Regan currently suspended, Tony McCoy is teaming up with some of the Howard Johnson string, and after showing his legendary strength to get Cooldine Lad home in front at Carlisle on Monday, the multiple champion travels to Newcastle today where he is due to don the Andrea & Graham Wylie silks on five occasions. Much interest will focus on his mount in the 1.30, the Cellular Solutions Mares' Maiden Hurdle, forecast odds-on favourite, River Shanakill. The Jimmy Mangan-trained granddaughter of top race mare, Sullane River, made it third time lucky 'between the flags' at Lisgoold in early January. Home-bred by the Grand National winning handler, the daughter of Flemensfirth followed-up the month after at Knockanard. Mangan described his charge as very good after that stylish victory and at the time the mares' final at Ballynoe was the plan followed by the mares' pointers' bumper at Tipperary. Obviously that didn't happen as the five-year-old took up residence with her current connections. River Shanakill has only encountered ground with a definite ease to date, so it will be interesting to see how she moves in the market before this assignment on good to soft going. (EM)
