McCoy tunes up for big date with Kauto

Champion jockey Tony McCoy got acquainted with champion racehorse Kauto Star ahead of the William Hill King George VI Chase yesterday morning.

McCoy has been called up by Paul Nicholls to ride the 10-year-old as stable jockey Ruby Walsh is out with a broken leg and his first choice replacement Noel Fehily stood himself down with a wrist injury.

History beckons for the pair if Kauto Star is successful, as no horse has ever won the mid-season highlight five times, with Clive Smith’s chaser equalling Desert Orchid’s previous record of four 12 months ago.