It has just been confirmed that Tony McCoy will take the ride on leading Gold Cup fancy Sir Des Champs, at Cheltenham on Friday afternoon.
The British champion jockey takes over from Davy Russell who has been stood down for the week.
Russell partnered the horse to recent success in the Hennessy Gold Cup at Leopardstown, but suffered a punctured lung on Thursday and has failed to pass medical officers.
It had originally been expected that Bryan Cooper would pick up the spare ride but things took a turn on Friday morning and McCoy suddenly became available.
McCoy had been jocked up to ride Sunnyhillboy in the race, but Jonjo O’Neill’s charge was ruled out at the last minute following a dirty scope, freeing up McCoy to take the ride.
