Horse racing: McCoy opts for Shooting Light

Tony McCoy has opted to ride Shooting Light in tomorrow’s £100,000stg Tripleprint Gold Cup at Cheltenham.

As Martin Pipe's stable jockey McCoy had the pick of four horses to partner and there was much speculation he could defect from his partnership with the Thomas Pink Gold Cup hero to ride his ex-French stablemate Ilnamar.

Ilnamar was backed down to co-favouritism as the rumours grew but the market is sure to be shaken up again with McCoy’s decision to stay loyal to Shooting Light.

Rodi Greene will now ride Ilnamar with Tom Scudamore on Cadougold and Tony Dobbin taking his first ride for Pipe on top-weight Upgrade.

There were no surprises among the 13 horses to stand their ground at the final declaration stage for the race.

All the horses that have dominated the ante-post markets for the Cheltenham feature have stood their ground, including a quartet of runners from the stable of champion trainer Martin Pipe.