Tony McCoy proved his fitness ahead of the Martell Cognac Grand National meeting, which starts tomorrow, when making a winning return to action on Deano's Beeno at Ascot today.
The champion jockey, who has opted to ride Iris Bleu in Saturday's big race, had been on the sidelines for 19 days after breaking his left collarbone when falling from Golden Alpha at the third last fence in Cheltenham's Grand Annual Challenge Cup.
But there was no doubting McCoy's well-being as he needed all his strength to keep the 5-4 favourite up to his work in today's sportingoptions.co.uk Betting Exchange Long Distance Hurdle.
