McCoy fears delay as BHA doctor may scupper early return

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The champion has been passed fit for riding by the surgeon who operated on his injured back in January, but Turner wants a more measured comeback before he will allow McCoy to resume race-riding.

Biding his time:McCoy

The jockey, who rode out 20 horses at Jonjo O'Neill's stables yesterday, had hoped to get back on the track around a week before the Cheltenham Festival starts on March 11 to fine tune his sharpness.

However, that could now be delayed to next weekend and the eve of jump racing's biggest meeting. McCoy said: 'I would obviously like to ride as soon as possible but that is down to Dr Turner and he doesn't seem too keen on me returning too soon before the Festival.

'I need to ride before Cheltenham but it is not my choice when to come back. I can only do what I am allowed but you do need to have a certain amount of race-riding.

'It doesn't affect me too much but I need to have some race-riding before Cheltenham to be fair to the people I'm riding for.

'I will hopefully sort it out in the next few days but I will not return if I am not OK - I am a bit mad but I am not that mad.'

McCoy confirmed that his potential Cheltenham Gold Cup mount Exotic Dancer was cantered yesterday morning but his place in the line-up alongside Denman and Kauto Star remains in doubt after it was confirmed that his back ligament injury is still causing problems.

Betting exchanges and bookmakers reflected the grim news about last year's Gold Cup runnerup rather more eloquently than trainer Jonjo O'Neill who insisted on Tuesday evening there were no problems.

Barry Simpson, racing manager to owner Sir Robert Ogden, confirmed-Exotic Dancer is sore in the lumbar region and will be closely monitored over the next 48 hours.

The horse is at a crucial stage in his preparation for the Gold Cup and, although this is a minor setback, the timing could not be worse. With only 15 days to the Gold Cup any work missed is critical and this now raises serious doubts about his participation.

'This has come as a hammer blow as it was only last Saturday that Jonjo reported to me that the horse had worked exceptionally well.'