Time emerges as significant piece of McCoy’s National jigsaw

WHAT could prove a significant piece in Tony McCoy’s John Smith’s Grand National jigsaw emerged at Cheltenham yesterday as the champion jockey piloted Can’t Buy Time to success in the victorchandler.com Handicap Chase.

The National is one of the few major prizes to have eluded McCoy, but following Cant Buy Time’s two-and-a-quarter-length victory over Private Be the eight-year-old emerged as a possible partner for the rider at Aintree in April.

The gelding is owned by JP McManus, who retains McCoy and on whose Clan Royal McCoy was carried out at Becher’s second time around in 2005 when looking to be travelling supremely well.