IRELAND’S GOLD CUP hopes are set to rest on jockey AP McCoy if he picks up a last-minute ride on board top contender Sir des Champs.
The Michael O’Leary-owned raider is the 4/1 second favourite for this afternoon’s Cheltenham showpiece but currently without a jockey following the hospitalisation of regular partner Davy Russell.
McCoy, who won the race last year with Sychronised, is without a ride following the withdrawal of Sunnyhillboy this morning due to a bad scope.
The Telegraph, for whom the Antrim native is a regular columnist, reports that he will take the ride on Sir des Champs although the switch is still to be officially confirmed.
Russell was rushed to hospital yesterday with a spontaneous collapsed lung, ruling him out of the remainder of this year’s Festival. The Corkman tweeted last night that he was feeling “much better”.
Further updates are expected later today on the condition of another Irish jockey, amateur rider JT McNamara, who suffered a “serious neck injury” yesterday.
McNamara fell from Galaxy Rock in the Fulke Walwyn Kim Muir Challenge Cup, and following lengthy treatment on course, was airlifted to hospital.
Dr Adrian McGoldrick, chief medical officer for the Irish Turf Club, said that the 37-year-old is due to have a scan this morning.
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