Honeymoon over, but no talk of divorce

Is the match that was supposed to be made in heaven heading for divorce? So many sporting romances end this way, but I’ve got to say I am keeping faith with Tony McCoy and Denman despite the honeymoon proving to be a washout.

Denman sent McCoy into orbit, after the champion jockey had asked his mount for a huge leap at the third from home in the AON Chase at Newbury. Denman tried to oblige but in taking off too far away from the fence, barely made it to the other side.

The post-mortem has already started, with some suggesting McCoy’s style is too far removed from that of Denman’s regular rider Ruby Walsh to be a success. It is true that McCoy and Walsh are poles apart in terms of riding style, but things had gone smoothly for much of the race as Denman had jumped superbly for McCoy.

There’s almost a month to the Gold Cup at Cheltenham and this will give Paul Nicholls plenty of time to iron out any problems and more importantly, the trainer has insisted the horse emerged unscathed from the race.

What is also of importance is that McCoy will have learned plenty from the race. You do not become champion jockey on 14 occasions without learning a few tricks along the way and I firmly believe there will be a far more slicker display at Cheltenham come March 19.