The shy and retiring AP McCoy. Three wise men pay tribute.

I know an awful fuss is being made of the retirement of Tony McCoy. I know!

He’ll be as embarrassed as anyone by the whole hoop-la-la.

But, I promise you, in decades to come the younger ones among you will be telling your children and their children about the man who was for sure the greatest jump jockey I will ever see in the saddle. Or, very likely, you will ever see.

Sometimes it is only when a top class sportsman or woman has been out of the picture for years that we truly appreciate them.

Here are three wise men reflecting on the career of AP McCoy. The wordsmith Alastair Down and former jockeys Brough Scott and John Francome.