McCoy gives vintage display

Champion jockey Tony McCoy's observation after he had virtually lifted Racing: Control Man over the line in the novices' hurdle qualifier at Fontwell yesterday said it all: "Has he got guts galore? I don't know about that - all I know is that he has got a mind of his own."

McCoy had to ride a power-packed race to get Martin Pipe's 9 to 4 shot home by a length and a half from Holland Park, with Copsale Lad half a length further back in third, after Control Man had looked likely to be swallowed up near the end.

The six-year-old, who made all, is now set for the Royal & SunAlliance Novices' Hurdle at Cheltenham, while the third will be aimed at the EBF Final at Sandown on March 13th.

Majed, trained by Paul Nicholls and ridden by Ruby Walsh, broke his duck over fences, but it was something of a belated victory for a horse who has run in the Martell Cognac Grand National twice.

The former smart hurdler (6 to 5 favourite) won the novices' chase by six lengths and 22 from Alpine Slave and Guard Duty. A delighted Nicholls said: "He loves nothing better than going right-handed around a little track like this, and it has rekindled his enthusiasm all over again. There will be lots of little races for him now, but I wouldn't dream of putting him in another National."

Harik, the classic all-rounder, took the handicap chase for owners the Best Beech Partnership, winning by seven lengths at 5 to 1 from Gus Des Bois. The 10-year-old, who was bred by Hamdan Al Maktoum, has 10 owners who hail from the East Sussex town of Wadhurst, and they have him to thank for a total of £76,000 in prize-money from 13 victories on the all-weather, over hurdles and over fences.

The chestnut is trained by Gary Moore and was ridden superbly by the handler's son Jamie, who conjured some splendid jumps out of him. Unfortunately, none of Harik's owners had a bet on their hero, as they thought the ground would prove too soft.

Rico Hombre almost threw the race away before scraping home from The Fridge in the NH flat race. The winner looked certain to score on the stands rails until he jinked close home. However, he regained his composure and battled back to regain the advantage.