TONY McCOY, who has ridden nine winners from 24 mounts at Catterick over the last five seasons, heads to the North Yorkshire course this afternoon with an excellent chance of enhancing his impressive 38 per cent strike-rate.

The 19-time champion jockey, pictured, is fancied to complete a treble and capture the feature race on the promising In In Doubt, who makes the long journey from Philip Hobbs' Minehead yard.

A 139-rated hurdler, If In Doubt unseated his rider on his chasing debut at Exeter, but, although not completely foot-perfect, produced a fine performance at Wetherby on his latest start to chase home the smart Sausolito Success.

If In Doubt has only three rivals in the £12,000 Pin Point Technical And Engineering Beginners' Chase and is fancied to make it third time lucky over fences.

McCoy teams up with Norton trainer John Quinn in the Pin Point Training Novices' Hurdle when he partners nap selection Chieftain's Choice, who has to concede weight to all but one of his rivals.

A good second at Wetherby on his seasonal debut behind The Grey Taylor, who has scored again since, Chieftain's Choice has since trotted-up, making all the running and winning unchallenged.

He's a strong-galloping horse and McCoy is likely to adopt forcing tactics from the off. The partnership should take plenty of catching.

McCoy will also team-up with New Street in the Pin Point Recruitment Juvenile Hurdle.

Now trained by Jim Best, the three-year-old was formerly a decent handicapper on the Flat - rated 84 - with Richard Fahey. Sold at the July Sales at Newmarket for a whopping 185,000gns, New Street needs to prove a success in his new discipline if he is to justify that hefty price tag. With McCoy in the saddle, all eyes will be on him in the second race on the card.

Tom Hamilton can win the opening Pin Point Healthcare Amateur Riders' Handicap Hurdle on Some Lad.

Hamilton is a regular rider of the gelding and won on him over fences three starts back at Kelso. Last week at Newcastle, the gelding reverted to hurdles and was beaten in the dying strides by neck winner Captain Sharpe. He deserves the chance to gain compensation for that narrow defeat.

Dark And Dangerous promises to be a tough nut to crack in the Pin Point Home Care Handicap Chase.

The six-year-old was a winner on this course in March for Brendan Powell and it is significant he has brought him back again. Although it is some time since he last ran over jumps, Dark And Dangerous has had a recent outing on the Flat at Wolverhampton which saw him finish unplaced but which should have teed him up nicely for this event. The trainer's son, Brendan Powell jnr takes the mount.

At Southwell's all-weather Flat meeting, Thorpe Bay makes plenty of appeal in the Daily Price Boost At Unibet Handicap.

Michael Appleby's sprinter gave Invincible Ridge plenty to think about when running him to a neck at Wolverhampton last time out on the Tapeta surface. Thorpe Bay now switches back to Fibresand, which suits him particularly well, a suggestion borne out by the fact that all his four career wins have been gained on this course. He can make it five under Alistair Rawlinson.

Appleby can also score with Queen Of Skies (12.55), who has course-and-distance winning form and who will have the services of Liam Jones in the fillies' handicap.

Richard Fahey saddles Milady Eileen in the nursery and Sammy-Jo Bell's mount should go well.

The two-year-old won a similar race over this course and distance four weeks ago under Tony Hamilton on her first outing on an artificial surface. She has been raised 5lb by the handicapper, but Bell's 5lb claim effectively erases that extra burden and puts Milady Eileen in with strong claims of completing a double.

Selections

Catterick today
12.10 Some Lad, 12.40 New Street, 1.10 Dark And Dangerous, 1.40 Chieftain’s Choice (NAP), 2.10 Foot The Bill, 2.40 If In Doubt, 3.10 My Teescomponents.

Southwell today
12.25 Wotalad, 12.55 Queen Of Skies, 1.25 Reve de Nuit, 1.55 Milady Eileen, 2.30 Rambo Will, 3.00 Knockamany Bends, 3.30 Thorpe Bay.

Today’s other meeting: Kempton.

Tomorrow’s meetings: Kempton, Lingfield, Ludlow and Newbury.