Snowy Outlook For Mullins And McCoy

Tony McCoy has been snapped up by Willie Mullins for the plum ride on plunge horse Snowy Morning in the Hennessy Cognac Gold Cup at Newbury on Saturday.

Mullins had hoped to book Mick Fitzgerald, but he is likely to be aboard Juveigneur for Nicky Henderson.

The Hennessy is one of the few major prizes to elude McCoy, while Mullins saddled Be My Royal to be first past the post in 2002 only for the horse to be controversially disqualified later.

'It was good to get him. I was looking for Mick Fitzgerald, who has ridden the horse before, but he wasn't available,' said Mullins.

'It became evident he (McCoy) might be available and I said if we could get him I'd be delighted. I contacted his agent Dave Roberts and he managed to get him for me.'

Mullins reports Snowy Morning ? runner-up to Denman in the Royal & SunAlliance Chase at the Festival in March ? to be in good shape but is worried about the lack of a recent outing.

'The horse is fine. The lack of a recent run would be a big drawback, but he has a nice racing weight and we are hoping for the best,' the Bagenalstown trainer continued.

Mullins added that his other entry, Alexander Taipan, was an unlikely runner.

Snowy Morning is 13-2 from 8-1 with totesport, whose spokesman Damian Walker said: 'He fits the profile of a Hennessy winner and in receipt of 18lb from Denman with the champion jockey booked, there's no wonder he has been well-backed.'

(C) PA Sport