Arise, Sir Tony…

“It’s a huge honour and I’m thrilled to be accepting it so close to home in Belfast.”

In fairness, if the lads aren’t fired up after being spoken to by this company of legends - there is no hope.

Tony McCoy is unsurprisingly taking his one-off return to the saddle very seriously as he prepares for the Leger Legends Charity Race at Doncaster on September 9.

Tony McCoy had to settle for third aboard Box Office on the final ride of his career in the bet365 Handicap Hurdle at Sandown.

The curtain will come down on the career of Tony McCoy at Sandown on Saturday, with the racing world quick to pay tribute to the record-breaking champion.

Tony McCoy steered Don Cossack to his fifth victory of a memorable campaign in the Betfred Melling Chase at Aintree.

A giant image of jockey Tony McCoy was projected onto the iconic Royal Liver building in Liverpool last night - the home city of the Aintree Festival.

Tony McCoy signed off his career in Ireland with two unplaced rides at Fairyhouse yesterday.

Gilgamboa provided another fairytale chapter in Tony McCoy’s retirement tour when capturing the Grade 1 Ryanair Gold Cup Novice Chase in Fairyhouse yesterday.

Paul O’Connell is taking on on a very different opponent in Limerick today - part of a team tackling litter throughout the city and county.

Tony McCoy believes it is “very likely” that he will ride Shutthefrontdoor rather than Cause Of Causes in the Crabbie’s Grand National at Aintree next month and has also confirmed he will not be riding at the Punchestown Festival.

Bookmakers are fearing a final day plunge on Tony McCoy’s last Cheltenham Festival rides after the retiring champion got off the mark on day three of the meeting.

Bookmakers report a gathering of Tony McCoy support in the market on leading jockey at this year’s Cheltenham Festival.

Tony McCoy will take Sunday and Monday off before the Cheltenham Festival to be in hospital with seven-month-old son Archie, who underwent cardiac surgery on Friday.

Champion jockey Tony McCoy expects Last Instalment to be in the Betfred Cheltenham Gold Cup shake-up following his Irish Hennessy win.

Tony McCoy’s ride in the Crabbie’s Grand National appears to be down to a potential two after the weights were announced for what looks an incredibly open renewal on April 5.