Straw Bear needs to go close, says McCoy

TONY McCOY is hoping to expose any chinks in the armour of Smurfit Kappa Champion Hurdle favourite Detroit City in the Agfa UK Hurdle at Sandown this afternoon.

The champion jockey rides Straw Bear for his boss JP McManus and admits that to be classed as a serious contender for Cheltenham honours, he will have to seriously push the Philip Hobbs-trained grey.

Nick Gifford’s charge was just touched off in the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle last year and when he won the ‘Fighting Fifth’ at Newcastle on his reappearance, he looked destined for the top.