CHAMPION jockey Tony McCoy can claim the Totesport.com Summer Plate at Market Rasen for the second year in a row when he lines up on board Tempsford today.

Thousands of racing fans will descend on Rasen today as the Lincolnshire racecourse hosts its biggest meeting of the year.

And punters will be delighted if the popular Irish jockey follows up his success on board Nostringsattached 12 months ago with victory on board 15-2 shot Tempsford.

The 10-year-old, who is trained by Jonjo O'Neill, last year's winning trainer, has a record of five wins from 12 starts in chases. And his record with McCoy on board is even better, with four wins out of eight.

He won his last two runs at Rasen, winning at the course in August last year and last time out in June.

McCoy's decision to ride Tempsford, rather than the other O'Neill-trained horses in the field, last year's winner Nostringsattached and runner-up Keepitsecret, also provides an indication that he has a great chance of claiming the £60,000 race.

Nostringsattached and Keepitsecret are both 10-1 shots this time around, although neither has much appeal this year.

Keepitsecret won an easy race at Uttoxeter in May before being pulled up at a listed race at the same course last month, while Nostringsattached has had no joy this year, finishing second-last at Stratford in June after being pulled up at Sandown in April and in the Fulke Walwyn Kim Muir Challenge Cup at the Cheltenham Festival the month before.

Polyfast is the 13-2 favourite, the Nicky Henderson-trained seven-year-old having been an impressive winner at Worcester last month.

Down near the bottom of the weights, along with Tempsford and Polyfast, the Nigel Twiston-Davies Grand Slam Hero looks good value at 10-1, having won at Ffos Las last month and Bangor in May.

Putney Bridge, a 7-1 shot, also has a strong chance, coming into the race on the back of a hat-trick of wins in June at Ffos Las, Stratford and Southwell.

The meeting will begin with the second biggest race of the day, the £40,000 Totescoop6 Summer Hurdle, where Pure Faith leads the field as the 11-2 favourite.

The Peter Bowen-trained six-year-old comes into the race on the back of three successive victories in novice hurdles. He won at Stratford earlier this month, then had victories at Ffos Las and Uttoxeter last month.

However, Pure Faith will face much tougher competition today than anything he has faced previously.

McCoy will ride Inventor, who carries top weight and is a 7-1 shot. The five-year-old horse will be aiming to follow up a good win at Hexham last month, which followed a relatively routine success at Bangor-on-Dee in April.

However, Tiger O'toole, who has won four out of his last five starts over hurdles, looks excellent value at 8-1.

The Evan Williams-trained five-year-old should be nicely rested following wins at Stratford and Southwell in May.

The second race, the Toteexacta Flexi Betting Juvenile Hurdle, will be an interesting test for Torran Sound, who will line up against a number of horses he beat when winning his debut hurdle race at Rasen in June.

The three-year-old beat Lady Pacha, Bring Sweets and Sansili in that race. Those three are all at lower prices than 8-1 shot Torran Sound today, reflecting that the James Eustace-trained horse has been put up 6lbs since that win.

WALKER'S WINNERS: 2.00 Tiger O'toole, 2.35 Torran Sound, 3.05 Breaking Storm, 3.35 Tempsford 4.10 Sir Frank, 4.45 Mutual Respect, 5.20 Seeyaaj.