Tony McCoy: 'Riding Uxizandre to victory at Cheltenham was a thrill'

Tony McCoy has admitted that it was a "thrill" to ride Uxizandre to victory in the Ryanair Chase in what is his final appearance at the Cheltenham Festival.

The 40-year-old, who will retire from racing at the end of the season, won his first race of the Festival on day three on the 16/1 shot Alan King-trained horse.

"I would love to say it's a relief, but I actually got such a thrill riding him," BBC Sport quotes McCoy as saying.

"I was actually thinking I wouldn't mind riding the horse in next year's Champion Chase. He ran away with me for a mile-and-a-half and I thought he would never keep it up but I was quite happy coming down the hill."

The 5/2 favourite Don Cossack finished third, while Ma Filleule crossed the line in second at 5/1.