McCoy plays a waiting game for final rides

AP McCOY’S last mounts of a peerless career could hinge on decisions made today in Britain and Ireland. The retiring champion jockey, on the verge of his 20th title, is confirmed for only one ride at Sandown on Saturday — the Paul Nicholls-trained Mr Mole in the Grade One AP McCoy Celebration Chase. Possible mounts in the feature Bet365 Gold Cup all have question marks against them. Jonjo O’Neill’s Lost Legend, allotted 10st 3lb, would need the top weights to be scratched and his weight to rise to McCoy’s range, while Nicholls is yet to decide how many of his four entries will start. The possible ride on Nicky Henderson’s 2013 Cheltenham Gold Cup winner Bobs Worth depends on Henderson giving him the all-clear to run today, as well as a medical examination of the healing broken shin of his usual jockey Barry Geraghty. Geraghty, who could be on Sprinter Sacre in the Celebration Chase, said: ‘I will be asking my surgeon the question in the morning. At the minute, it is very possible I will be back. The leg is in good nick and weight-bearing.’ Nicholls was forced to scratch Benvolio — McCoy’s Scottish National horse — 24 hours before last Saturday’s race because of fast ground but he does not envisage that scenario with Mr Mole. McCoy could do the weight on three of Nicholls’s four Gold Cup entries — Rocky Creek and Unioniste, unplaced and a faller respectively in the Grand National, plus Wonderful Charm. Nicholls said: ‘Good ground would be fine for Mr Mole. They will keep watering and there is rain forecast for Friday and Saturday. ‘If I wanted a jockey for the Bet365 Gold Cup, of course I would use AP McCoy. Everyone would say the same but there are all sorts of scenarios and I need to see what I run first. Sam Twiston-Davies will definitely ride one and Noel Fehily could ride Unioniste.’ A possible ride in the Bet365 Handicap Hurdle, which concludes Saturday’s card, is the appropriately named, O’Neill-trained Champagne Present.