McCoy hints at Aigle D'Or snub in the Ladbroke

Champion jockey Tony McCoy looks like turning down the ride on Aigle D'Or, ante-post favourite for Saturday's Ladbroke Hurdle at Ascot, in favour of Belcantista whose only win in a jumps race came in a novice hurdle contest at Exeter last month.

Both horses are owned by JP McManus and McCoy seems to be favouring the Philip Hobbs-trained Belcantista, who has been the subject of a gamble that has seen his odds drop from 25-1 to 7-1, rather than Nicky Henderson's Greatwood Hurdle runner-up.

Aigle D'Or is 5-1 favourite with the sponsors for the £150,000 two-mile handicap but McCoy said: "Most will assume I will ride Aigle D'Or but his Greatwood Hurdle second has not worked out. Belcantista could be the one."

Henderson seems aware of McCoy's intentions to switch and has booked 5lb claimer John Kington to ride Aigle D'Or, but Hobbs is just hoping Belcantista gets a run.

He said: "The first concern for Belcantista is getting into the race. He needs two of them above him to come out. Once he has made it, we can start worrying about who will ride him.

"I don't know where the money has come from. He won easily at Exeter, but the form is difficult to assess.