Real McCoy gets the job done

Tony McCoy moved to 99 for the season and got favourite-backers off to the best possible start with a brilliant effort in the opener at Cheltenham.

His mount Kia Kaha had a sizeable amount of money riding on him as 2-1 jolly in the Ryman The Stationers Novices’ Handicap Hurdle.

He hit the front probably sooner than McCoy would have liked with three flights to jump and while he was passed on the run-in by the strong-travelling Roman Villa, rider Paul Carberry lost his whip close to the line and the perennial champion got back up by a neck.

Trainer Jonjo O’Neill said: “The jockey was helpful as always. He looked like he was spent but in fairness he kept going and did the job. We’ll look for another little race somewhere.”

Winning owner JP McManus added: “It looks like we ran him in the right race as we did consider the novice on Friday.

“I didn’t back him. I thought he was well-handicapped but considering his inexperience the price was too skinny for me.”