Ladbrokes have slashed the odds on AP McCoy to be top jockey at the Cheltenham Festival after coming under siege from the champ's loyal fans.

The Magic Sign now make McCoy their clear 5/1 second favourite (from 7/1) having laid tens of thousands of pounds in the space of just a few hours on him to topple rival Ruby Walsh who remains the even money favourite.

But's it's McCoy rather than Walsh whom the bookies now fear.

David Williams of Ladbrokes said: "McCoy still has a magical appeal for punters. This market had been fairly quiet until the injury news was cleared up but it's now gone into meltdown.

"Cheltenham without AP would have been awful for punters and bookies alike so we were thrilled with the news. But we're now staring down the barrel of a hefty six figure payout. McCoy in the winner's enclosure tends to mean one thing: punter delight."

Choc Thornton has been eased to 8/1 (from 7s), Mick Fitzgerald is out to 10/1 (from 8s) and Sam Thomas is a 12/1 poke (from 10s) for the top jock prize.

Ladbrokes - Top Festival Jockey
Evs R Walsh, 5 A McCoy, 8 R Thornton, 10 M Fitzgerald, 12 S Thomas, 12 D Russell, 10 D O’Regan, 20 T Scudamore, 25 A McNamara, 25 P Brennan, 25 P Carberry, 25 R Johnson, 25 T Murphy, 25 T Scudamore, 40 B Geraghty, win only