McCoy to ride Master Minded

McCoy's mount is expected to start favourite for Saturday's big race

Tony McCoy will ride the probable odds-on favourite Master Minded in Saturday's Tingle Creek Chase.

McCoy replaces Sam Thomas, who has endured a nightmare run in recent big races for the Paul Nicholls yard.

Thomas, deputising for the injured Ruby Walsh, has been unseated in two prominent races for the Nicholls team.

He came off leading fancies Kauto Star in the Betfair Chase and then Big Buck's in the Hennessy Gold Cup and will not get the plum ride at Sandown.

With Irishman Walsh on the sidelines recovering from a ruptured spleen, Thomas - a brilliant winner on board Denman in the Cheltenham Gold Cup - has come in for criticism in some quarters of late.

The young Welsh rider endured a spectacular fall off Gwanako, favourite in the Grand Sefton Chase at Aintree, while a final fence blunder on Mr Pointment in the Becher Chase cost him that race.

Thomas suffered another wretched day on Monday when his two mounts at Folkestone both came to grief.

Master Minded, who won Cheltenham's Queen Mother Champion Chase in tremendous style, is the highest-rated chaser in training.

606: DEBATE I think it's the right thing to take Thomas out of the limelight. I'll be shocked if he loses his no. 2 spot for P Nicholls though beachendcentre

McCoy rode four winners at Newbury last Saturday and was the obvious choice for Master Minded if connections were looking beyond Thomas.

It appears they have been swayed by Thomas's recent form, rather than his tremendous performances in 2007-08, which included winning the Tingle Creek 12 months ago on Twist Magic.

Master Minded's owner Clive Smith said: "It was a tough decision, but I think it is the right one," said Smith.

"I think it is right for Sam. 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. 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, including when he rode Royal Auclair to win the Cathcart at Cheltenham and on Free World last month."

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Tingle Creek Chase, Sandown, latest odds:
8-11 Master Minded, 7-2 Tidal Bay, 10-1 Takeroc, 12-1 Jack the Giant & Twist Magic, 33-1 bar.

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