McCoy makes Hereford return

Tony McCoy returns to racing action at Hereford tomorrow after being sidelined for eight weeks with a badly broken right wrist.

The champion jump jockey makes his comeback on Absolutelythebest, trained by John O’Shea, in the opening World Bet Exchange wbx.com Novices’ Hurdle.

He partnered the five-year-old to victory on his latest outing at Market Rasen in July and the trainer is hoping for another success.

O’Shea said: “He’s in great form – the horse is on fire. AP got on with him very well when he won the last time. He’s not the easiest horse in the world but he’s very well.

“I heard AP was coming back so I asked and he said he would ride if he was 100% and he’s had a good run for me this year.”

McCoy will also in action aboard Jonjo O’Neill’s Bouncy Castle in the concluding World Bet Exchange wbx.com Maiden Open National Hunt Flat Race.

The rider sustained his injury on Sporting Limerick at the Galway Festival on August 2, but has been riding out for several days in preparation for his return.

He has seen his lead in the jockeys’ title race whittle away with conditional Tom O’Brien, who has three rides at Hereford, having joined him on the 49 mark thanks to a winner at Sedgefield on Tuesday. Richard Johnson is just two behind in third.

Ladbroks go 7-4 that McCoy will not rach 170 winners and therefore post his lowest season total for over a decade and offer the same price about him riding between 170 and 185 and also 7-4 about him getting more than 185.

“He’s one of the most resilient characters in sport so we’re not writing him off just yet,” said Ladbrokes spokesman David Williams.

“He still ought to have enough ammunition to see off the annual challenge of Richard Johnson providing he avoids further injuries.

“But his circumstances have changed and with more and more rides in Ireland, we feel the champ’s final seasonal figures might be his least impressive for some time.”