Sir Anthony McCoy has admitted he would love to be riding Don Cossack in the Timico Cheltenham Gold Cup after enjoying a schooling session aboard Gordon Elliott's stable star on Friday morning.

The Gigginstown House Stud-owned nine-year-old provided the 20-times champion jockey with his final Grade One winner before retirement in the Melling Chase at Aintree last April, and currently heads ante-post lists for the blue riband at Prestbury Park next month.

Don Cossack is not short of strong opposition, with last year's runner-up Djakadam King George hero Cue Card and fellow Gigginstown runner Don Poli all lying in wait, but given the choice, McCoy would side with the Elliott runner.

He told Press Association Sport: "I gave him a couple of canters and schooled him over a few fences and he felt great. I'd love to be riding him in the Gold Cup.

"If I had the choice of any horse, he'd be the one I'd ride.

"I'm not just saying that because I won on him. I just think he has all the right attributes and if we get some good weather that will be in his favour."

The man who will eventually need to decide between Don Cossack and Don Poli is Gigginstown's retained rider Bryan Cooper.

"It's a tough choice for Bryan, but he's very lucky to be in that position," said McCoy.