McCoy Cleared by NHA

Tony McCoy’s injury odyssey has finally come to and end. After a tense recuperation period in which his participation in the 2008 Cheltenham Festival was always in doubt, Tony McCoy has finally been declared fit to compete in the festival by the National Horseracing Authority.

Tony McCoy suffered a fractured vertebra at during a race at Warwick in January. Following the race a pin was inserted into his vertebra and McCoy was subjected to daily isolation in a chamber at –130 degrees Celsius.

With the great jockey back in the mix, the 2008 Cheltenham Festival is poised to generate even more excitement. For a start Tony McCoy will be riding Exotic Dancer in the Cheltenham Gold Cup, a prospect which may see Exotic Dancer’s odds shorten over the weekend.

While Tony McCoy will no doubt be ecstatic about the news, another Grand National jockey will be missed at this year’s Cheltenham Festival. 2007 Cheltenham Festival top jockey Andrew Thornton has been ruled out of the 2008 Cheltenham Festival following a fall at Kempton Park that saw him dislocate his shoulder. The injury will see Thornton ruled out of the remainder of the National Hunt season.

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