Tony McCoy back with Ludlow win
Champion jockey Tony McCoy made a perfect return to action at Ludlow last night after a month out through injury.
McCoy was back in the saddle after a crashing fall at Cheltenham that left him in hospital for a week with broken ribs.
The 18-time champion was passed all-clear to ride again this week and had intended to return at Aintree tonight.
But when trainer Jonjo O'Neill declared Church Field for the Lycetts Insurance Brokers Novices' Handicap Hurdle at Ludlow, he jumped at the chance of riding again.
McCoy has missed the start of the new campaign and Donald McCain's stable jockey Jason Maguire – runner-up in the title race last season – has grabbed the chance to make the most of his rival's absence.
But McCoy will be aiming to narrow the gap quickly and said: "It's great to be back."
"I rode near enough 900 horses in England and Ireland last season, so you can expect to get some knocks. But I just hope I've had my enforced holiday now and I am looking forward to getting going again.
"It's not so bad when you are sore in hospital but once I was out, I was getting bored and frustrated. I wanted to get back and when the doctor gave me the all-clear, I started riding out for Jonjo."
