THE remarkable Tony McCoy, who will be crowned champion jump jockey for a 19th consecutive time when the season draws to a close on Saturday, graces Wetherby with his presence this afternoon and is unlikely to return home empty-handed.

McCoy has a startling strike-rate of 37 per cent at the 'A1 course', having ridden 29 winners from 78 mounts at the track in the last five seasons. He has a whole host of fancied rides and should keep his loyal legion of fans smiling by riding more than one winner.

McCoy can start off in winning mood by landing the opening New Racing UK Anywhere Available Now Selling Hurdle on the Jonjo O'Neill-trained Rosslyn Castle.

A winner at Chepstow in March, the five-year-old has since looked limited in placed efforts at Uttoxeter and Carlisle and now drops in grade, which offers him the chance to resume winning ways.

The Download New racing UK IPad Novices' Chase has attracted only three runners and Bit Of A Jig, McCoy's mount for Donald McCain, is the highest-rated of the trio.

Successful at Catterick and Sedgefield, he bombed out badly last time at Ayr and McCain now reaches for the blinkers. He can hardly be considered a sound betting proposition, but fingers are crossed the headgear works the oracle.

McCoy, pictured, and McCain again team up in the Book Tickets Online At wetherbyracing.co.uk Handicap Hurdle when the pair will be represented by Cool Sky.

The gelding was triumphant at Musselburgh on his penultimate start, but was disappointing when a beaten favourite at Newcastle on his latest outing. He has useful claims on the best of his form and perhaps McCoy's handling will enable him to put his best foot forward

Bobs Lord Tara could be another McCoy-ridden winner in the second leg of the National Hunt Flat Race.

A nine lengths winner at Carlisle on his latest outing, the gelding is trained by Alan Swinbank, who sent out two winners at Musselburgh on Sunday.

McCoy's mount Cloudingstar can hardly be left out of the reckoning in the Wetherby Racecourse & Conference Centre Handicap Chase, but preference is for the lightly-weighted Whiskey Ridge, trained by Sue Smith and a previous course-and-distance winner.

Also worth noting are Micky Hammond's hat-trick-seeking Rayadour (2.35) and Malcolm Jefferson's newcomer Norse Of Corse (5.20), a son of Norse Dancer.

Flat racing in both quantity and quality has been frustratingly thin on the ground over the Easter period and it hardly improves much today.

Significant at Yarmouth's twilight meeting is the booking of Ryan Moore by Norton trainer Brian Ellison for Dream Walker in the Seadell Shops And Chalets At Hemsby Handicap.

The five-year-old, who should have benefited from his comeback outing at Doncaster over three weeks ago, is a previous winner on this course.

There is another eye-catching jockey booking in the opening Grosvenor Casino At Great Yarmouth Maiden Stakes. Brown Velvet, an unraced juvenile, trained by Hugo Palmer, is to be ridden by William Buick. A visor is fitted on the youngster, who is plainly not one to underestimate

The nap selection is Golden Steps (4.55), who contests the maiden under Frankie Dettori after showing promise on his only juvenile outing. He looks the type to do well for trainer Marco Botti this season.

Selections

Wetherby today

2.05 Rosslyn Castle, 2.35 Rayadour, 3.10 Bit Of A Jig, 3.45 Cool Sky, 4.15 Whiskey Ridge, 4.45 River Purple, 5.20 Norse Of Corse, 5.50 Bobs Lord Tara.

Yarmouth today

4.20 Brown Velvet, 4.55 Golden Steps (NAP), 5.25 Thuraayat, 5.55 Freedom's Light, 6.25 Dream Walker, 6.55 Hot Mustard, 7.25 Imaginary Diva.

Today's other meetings

Kelso, Ludlow and Wolverhampton.

Tomorrow's meetings

Catterick, Epsom, Perth, Southwell and Taunton.