McCoy move best for all parties - Smith
The champion jockey will get the leg up on the highest-rated National Hunt horse in training at the weekend in preference to Sam Thomas, who is currently the number one rider for trainer Paul Nicholls with stable jockey Ruby Walsh sidelined through injury.
Thomas has come in for some criticism in some quarters of late after the high-profile defeats of Kauto Star in the Betfair Chase and Big Buck’s in the Hennessy Gold Cup, both of whom unshipped Thomas at the final fence.
Thomas suffered another wretched day on Monday where his two mounts at Folkestone both failed to complete and owner Clive Smith believes it is important he regains his confidence before returning to ride at the highest level.
“Tony McCoy will ride Master Minded at the weekend and obviously it was a tough decision, but I think it is the right one,” said Smith.
“I think it is right for Sam as we need to get him right and he is obviously having a bad time at the moment but he will get his confidence back.
“We are also doing the right thing by the horse as he is a young horse with great talent and it is just the sensible thing to do.
“We had a great day with Sam when he rode Kauto to win the Betfair Chase last season and that was a great ride.
“Tony has ridden for me in the past obviously, including when he rode Royal Auclair to win the Cathcart at Cheltenham and on Free World last month.”
Nicky Henderson is unlikely to let Jack The Giant take his chance due to the likely soft conditions.
The six-year-old has won five of his seven starts over fences and made a hugely impressive return to action at Ascot a couple of weeks ago.
Henderson, fresh from a four-timer at Newbury last weekend, is looking to step his charge up in grade but may elect to wait for the King George VI Chase at Kempton on Boxing Day rather than let him take on the likes over Master Minded at the weekend.
“The main thing with Jack The Giant is that he has to have good ground so we are keeping a very close eye on the weather,” said Henderson. “I would have to say that it looks unlikely at this stage as there is no great rush with him and the ground is important.”
