Tony McCoy has landed the plum ride on Best Mate in the King George VI Chase at Kempton Park on St Stephen's Day.

Best Mate's regular partner, Jim Culloty, has not recovered from a broken right arm in time to take the ride in the mid-season highlight leaving McCoy to step in for the mount.

Although pleased to be given the chance on Henrietta Knight's exciting young chaser McCoy has his reservations.

He said: "I'm delighted I'm riding him but I'm a bit gutted I've got off Legal Right, who has been good to me as well as his owner and I might regret it. However, in Best Mate we are talking about potentially the best young horse in the country."