McCoy thrilled with his Best Mate

TONY McCOY declared his love for Best Mate after the favourite provided plenty of Christmas cheer for punters with a battling success in the £150,000 Pertemps King George VI Chase at Kempton yesterday.

"I'd marry him if I could," gushed the champion jockey as he returned to the winner's enclosure on a horse with a developing fan club.

The 11-8 favourite will now return to Cheltenham next March to attempt back-to-back wins in the Tote Gold Cup, for which he is a best-priced 5-2 with Coral. But in a race of changing fortunes, Best Mate's supporters experienced plenty of palpitations on their way to the pay-out queue.