‘Massive plus’ as McCoy reunited with Cross

Trainer Rebecca Curtis believes the fact Tony McCoy will be reunited with At Fishers Cross in today’s Wessex Youth Trust Long Walk Hurdle at Ascot is a massive plus.

While Curtis absolved McCoy’s replacement Barry Geraghty of any blame on his seasonal reappearance at Newbury, the champion jockey knows the six-year-old very well having been on board for seven of his eight career wins.

At Fishers Cross confirmed himself as the best staying novice with wins at Cheltenham and Aintree last term. But his jumping was sloppy at Newbury and there was no guarantee he would have reeled in Celestial Halo first time out when he made a bad blunder two from home.