RACING’S campaign to aid Tony McCoy in his bid to become the first ever jockey to win the BBC’s Sports Personality of the Year award, takes on extra impetus at Cheltenham today when the feature race has been renamed the Vote A.P. McCoy Gold Cup.

It would, of course, be entirely appropriate if McCoy, the 15-times champion jump jockey, were to win this £150,000 handicap on Irish challenger Finger On the Pulse, winner of the Jewson Chase on this course as a novice.

McCoy looks sure to enjoy a good ride on Tom Taaffe’s runner, but preference is for Dave’s Dream, the mount of Barry Geraghty, and trained by Nicky Henderson.

Although largely disappointing last season as a novice, Dave’s Dream looked a different proposition when making a winning reappearance in a competitive handicap on this course last month, after undergoing a wind operation during the summer.

This looks a tough race, but Dave’s Dream is a talented horse and he is fancied to triumph in McCoy’s race.

All eyes will be on Cue Card in the £150,000 StanJames.com International Hurdle. Colin Tizzard’s four-year-old has yet to taste defeat in four starts.

Last season, he won the Champion Bumper on this course in emphatic style, while this term, he has triumphed in both his starts over hurdles, including a Grade 2 event here last time out.

Cue Card faces much tougher and more experienced opposition this time, however, with the likes of Menorah, recent winner of the Greatwood Hurdle, and Paul Nicholls’ exciting Silviniaco Conti, three-from-three in Britain, and most impressive last time out at Ascot.

Cue Card, though, has the potential to be a champion and he can prove himself to be the real deal here. On what is a top-notch card, Master Minded adds to the mouth watering action in the Tingle Creek Chase.

Paul Nicholls’ charge has been the most dominant two-mile chaser of recent seasons, but was plagued by problems last term.

It was, however, business as usual for Master Minded on his recent comeback at Ascot where he produced a scintillating performance to win without being asked a serious question. In that sort of form, he will be very hard to beat this afternoon.

It’s back to basic all-weather fare at Southwell tomorrow where Richard Fahey is clearly determined to lift the main prize; he saddles no less than four of the runners in the £16,000 totesuper7 Handicap.

The Malton trainer may, though, have to settle for minor honours, behind Imprimis Tagula, trained by Alan Bailey and a good second here last time to Love Delta over six furlongs.

Tomorrow’s longer trip is probably even more suitable.

Tomorrow’s nap vote is awarded to Takajan (2.45), trained by the in-form Mark Brisbourne and the mount of James Rogers. A decisive winner here last week, the gelding is strongly fancied to defy a 6lb penalty.


Racing selctions

Cheltenham (Today)
11.40 Woolcombe Folly, 12.10 Sam Winner, 12.45 Time For Rupert, 1.20 Quartz de Thaix, 1.55 Master Minded, 2.30 Dave’s Dream, 3.05 Cue Card, 3.40 Mossley.

Southwell (Tomorrow)
12.45 Sapphire Girl, 1.15 Majuro, 1.45 Olney Lass, 2.15 Imprimis Tagula, 2.45 Takajan (NAP), 3.15 Dandarrell.

Tomorrow’s other meeting: Huntindgon.

Today’s meetings: Lingfield, Southwell, Wolverhampton.