Despite announcing his impending retirement from racing, nineteen times Champion jockey Tony McCoy showed no sign of slowing down as he rode to victory on Scoop the Pot in the opening two mile novice hurdle at Ludlow Races, writes GRAHAM SAVEKER.

Riding for his retained owner J P McManus and trainer Phillip Hobbs, McCoy and his partner set off as 15/8 favourite in the fourteen runner race.

Despite being momentarily outpaced in the back straight, Scoop the Pot challenged strongly on the home bend to lead close to home, winning by one and a half lengths from the runner-up Argot.

McCoy was also in action later in the day on A Shade Of Bay in the Mares’ Handicap Hurdle, where he pushed eventual winner Blameitallonmyroots all the way to the line.

Blameitallonmyroots trainer Oliver Sherwood and rider Leighton Aspell were in double form at the track as they recorded a second win with Global Power, riding to an easy four length win in the three mile Handicap Chase.

The wins gave Sherwood, who had saddled only five winners so far in 2015, confidence that his stable is finally in form ahead of the Cheltenham National Hunt festival next week.

Sherwood has hopes that former Hennessy Gold Cup winner Many Clouds will start in the prestigious Gold Cup.

Meanwhile top jockey Jason Maguire is set to miss the Cheltenham Festival for a second year in a row after Ludlow stewards banned him for a fortnight under the non-triers rules

Maguire, who missed last year’s festival through injury told the press afterwards that he would be appealing the decision.

Following the meet, the Ludlow course was given a glowing reference from top national hunt trainer Kim Bailey who saw victory with Gallery Exhibition in the Novices’ Limited Handicap Chase.#

"I wanted to support Ludlow as they put such good money on," Bailey told Racing UK.

“I think people should take note, it just shows what can be done.”