Tony McCoy expected at Fairyhouse as many others miss out

Tony McCoy memorably tasted Irish Grand National success on Butler’s Cabin in 2007 and Fairyhouse’s authorities are keeping their fingers crossed in anticipation of the legendary champion jockey trying to repeat that feat before his upcoming retirement.

McCoy has ruled out bringing the curtain down on his career at Punchestown in a month's time but his boss JP McManus currently has seven entries left in Monday's Irish National including the Philip Hobbs-trained If In Doubt and the former dual-Cheltenham Festival winner Alderwood.

McManus's entry for Easter Sunday's Ryanair Gold Cup includes Gilgamboa and the Fairyhouse manager Peter Roe said: "We are expecting him to be here on Sunday and Monday and naturally we want to make a presentation to him.

“Mind you the way things have gone recently for jockeys in terms of injuries and suspensions, I’m not presuming anything until I see AP McCoy actually here.”

Both Barry Geraghty and Davy Russell are not expected to return from injury until Punchestown towards the end of April while Bryan Cooper misses out on the first two days of Fairyhouse through suspension.

The season's top jockey in Ireland, Mark Walsh, is also on the injury sidelines and isn't expected to return to action until Punchestown.

McCoy has already predicted he could retire immediately if successful in Saturday week’s Aintree Grand National but if he loses out there, he won’t keep riding until Punchestown.

“If I didn’t win it [Aintree National] I’ll go on until Sandown [April 25th]. It’s the end of the British season and they’ve been kind enough to name a race after me,” he reported.

“I did have some thoughts about Punchestown the following week but I definitely won’t be riding there. If I did that, I might just as well carry on and I won’t be doing that,” McCoy added.