Racing: McCoy caught out as Challenger fades

A treble narrowly eluded Tony McCoy at Newbury yesterday when Challenger du Luc, hot favourite for the Jacky Upton Handicap Chase, was caught on the line and beaten a head by Callisoe Bay.

Richard Dunwoody expertly demonstrated how the Pipe chaser needs the most patient of handling when winning last year's Murphy's Gold Cup. Yesterday, McCoy waited until the last fence to produce his mount to collar his apparently beaten rival only to get no response from the horse on the run to the line.

"Callisoe Bay battled and the other fellow didn't," said winning trainer Oliver Sherwood.

Martin Pipe yesterday broke his own record for the fastest century of jump winners with odds-on shot Rainwatch at Newbury. He was reaching the target 15 days ahead of last year's schedule.