TONY McCOY, who took a rare day off yesterday, is back in action at Bangor today seeking to add to the 21 winners he’s ridden this month from 64 mounts, at a strike-rate of 33 per cent.

Clearly, and typically, the 19-times champion jockey is still riding at the peak of powers as he inches towards retirement at the end of the season, which will be the end of a remarkable era for an extraordinary sportsman.

Assured of his 20th title this term, McCoy had previously been top conditional rider and will bring the curtain down on his career after 21 seasons in which he has been champion every time. Pure magic.

A warm welcome will await McCoy at Bangor, where he’s ridden five winners from 21 mounts this season.

He can add another brace of successes to that tally this afternoon, courtesy of Hurricane’s Girl and Mackerye End, both trained by Jonjo O’Neill, whose horses are in excellent form on the final run-up to the Cheltenham Festival.

Hurricane’s Girl is on something of a retrieval mission in the Cheltenham Preview Evening Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle.

She started favourite at Towcester last time out when coming to grief early on under Richie McLernon. She had previously finished a promising second to the above-average Lady Buttons at Worcester.

Although without a race since early November, Hurricane’s Girl is expected to be fit enough to do herself justice on her return this afternoon and spark a McCoy double.

Mackerye End has precious few fitness doubts in the Weatherbys Bank Handicap Hurdle.

The six-year-old was a winner just over three weeks ago at Chepstow when beating high-class chaser Wyck Hill by one and three-quarter lengths.

There is surely more to come from this lightly-raced son of Milan. He should be a tough nut to crack under McCoy off an opening handicap mark of 125.

The Wrexham Lager Handicap Chase looks a good opportunity for Goodtoknow to regain the winning thread.

Richard Lee’s course and distance winner has finished second at Warwick and on this track on his last two starts.

He faces no easy task with top weight, but the weight-range is only 15lb and Jake Greenall’s consistent mount is fancied to get away with it.

Eastern Witness may prove the answer to the Weatherbys Bank Novices’ Handicap Chase.

Venetia Williams’ gelding was a beaten favourite at Ludlow last time when third to Keryhead Storm, but that was only his third start over fences and he should not be dismissed just yet with Aidan Coleman again in the saddle.

Bridget Andrews rode a winner on Nefyn Bay at Catterick yesterday and this excellent amateur rider, who claims the full 7lb, could follow up aboard Dan Skelton’s Rascal.

Meanwhile, Preseli Rock (4.55), a beaten favourite at Chepstow last time, merits another chance in the concluding bumper, provided, of course, that man McCoy does not pop up on newcomer Suit Yourself, owned by his boss JP McManus.

At Wincanton, Alto Des Mottes gets the nap vote in the Come Racing Novices’ Handicap Hurdle.

Trained by Paul Nicholls, the five-year-old has finished in the frame in all three of his outings this season and was beaten only four lengths into third place behind Skylander at Taunton earlier in the month.

Nicholls and his number-one jockey Sam Twiston-Davies can also win the Wincanton Handicap Chase with Atlantic Roller, who has had only two starts this season.

Sent off favourite here last month, Atlantic Roller had every chance when blundering and unseating his rider at the final fence. He deserves the opportunity to atone.

Bangor today: 2.25 Hurricane’s Girl, 2.55 Eastern Witness, 3.25 Mackerye End, 3.55 Goodtoknow, 4.25 Rascal, 4.55 Preseli Rock.

Wincanton today: 2.10 Rhythm Star, 2.40 The Game Is A Foot, 3.10 Atlantic Roller, 3.40 Alto Des Mottes (NAP), 4.10 Dont Call Me Oscar, 4.40 Big Fella Thanks.

Today’s other meeting: Kempton.