Tony McCoy the key to final day betting battle at Cheltenham

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.

While McCoy’s win aboard 16-1 shot Uxizandre in the Ryanair Chase hardly had the layers running for cover, Ladbrokes’ David Williams believes that victory could mean the famous ‘McCoy factor’ comes into play.

The 19-times title winner has five rides, with him signing off at the Festival aboard Ned Buntline, while his Betfred Cheltenham Gold Cup mount Carlingford Lough is likely to be a popular selection, which would not be good news for the bookmakers.