LONDON: Tony McCoy has had a year most people would kill for having won the world's most challenging and best known race the Grand National and become the first jockey to be named BBC Sports Personality of the Year. However, the 36-year-old Ulsterman can round it off in proper style should he guide Kauto Star to a record fifth King George VI Chase at Kempton Park Monday after the race was rescheduled from Sunday because of the freezing weather. Kauto Star, who is the only horse to have regained the Cheltenham Gold Cup, already holds the record for winning the race four times in a row – legend Desert Orchid won it four times but over a five year stretch 1986-91. McCoy, 15-time champion jockey, got the ride as Noel Fehily was ruled unfit with a recurrence of a wrist injury – he in turn had got the ride because trainer Paul Nicholls' stable jockey Ruby Walsh broke his leg in November. “Like most other people in racing I have followed Kauto Star throughout his career and it is a huge thrill now to be riding such a horse, the best chaser in years, for the first time,” he said. He did have a heavy fall in the Gold Cup, one of those which you are glad they get up from, but he appeared to show no ill effects when winning at Down Royal earlier this season. – Agence France
