Tony McCoy and horse Synchronised win Cheltenham Gold Cup

Jockey Tony McCoy celebrates his win on Synchronised

Antrim jockey Tony McCoy and his horse Synchronised won the Cheltenham Gold Cup on Friday afternoon.

It was the jockey's second Gold Cup triumph, the last win being in 1997.

McCoy commended his horse for the win. He said: "He's an amazing horse and it was an amazing performance. He's really delivered."

"He has a great heart and a great will to win.

"He doesn't have the physique or the stature, he doesn't look like a chaser and he doesn't look like a Gold Cup horse."

BBC sports reporter Mark Sidebottom said it was an "awesome day and an awesome performance for an awesome man".

"AP McCoy is the punter's star," he said.

Our reporter, who is at Cheltenham, said all of McCoy's family, apart from his mother, were at the race.

The jockey's sister Kelly said: "He just so deserves it, he works so hard and he is so committed."

It was the first Gold Cup for Synchronised's trainer Jonjo O'Neill.

"AP [McCoy] was brilliant on him, he knows him so well. Our big worry was keeping him in the race as, if he makes mistakes, he gets behind," he said.

"A lot of work has gone into him at home so it was a great team effort from the yard. He only came right in the last 10 days or so and we weren't really confident."

McCoy, from Moneyglass, was awarded an OBE in June 2010 and was named BBC Sports Personality of the Year in December 2010.