Sacre in, McCoy out for Punchestown

There was mixed news for racing fans yesterday when it was confirmed equine superstar Sprinter Sacre would take his place in Tuesday’s Champion Chase at Punchestown but perennial British champion jump jockey Tony McCoy would miss the entire festival.

McCoy, who will pick up his 18th jockeys’ championship title next weekend, fell from Quantitativeeasing in the Barbury International Horse Trials Handicap Hurdle on Thursday at Cheltenham.

Following assessment at the track, McCoy was taken to Gloucestershire Royal Hospital, where X-rays revealed he had suffered broken ribs.