TONY McCoy was presented with the trophy for his 20th and final National Hunt jockeys' championship before riding in the bet365 AP McCoy Celebration Chase at Sandown.

The trophy was commissioned by the then British Horseracing Board back in 2007 and as the retiring McCoy is the only rider to have lifted it, having dominated the title since 1996, it was announced on Friday he would be awarded the trophy permanently.

Forty-year-old McCoy, who is based at Baydon near Marlborough, was given a guard of honour from the rest of the weighing room as he signed autographs on the way to receiving the accolade.

Given a rousing ovation, McCoy, who is famously an Arsenal fan, was handed the trophy alongside his family for a final time by former Gunners star Ian Wright.

McCoy had earlier seen roles reversed as he presented Sean Bowen with his conditional riders' trophy - a title the great jockey won back in 1994-5.

He then had to settle for third aboard Mr Mole in the bet365 AP McCoy Celebration Chase, the penultimate ride of his illustrious career, at Sandown.

McCoy raced prominently on the Paul Nicholls-trained runner but the writing was on the wall as he began to push along at the third-last fence as eventual winner Special Tiara kicked for home.

While Mr Mole kept on at the one pace, McCoy could not reel back the 3-1 favourite, who ran out a six-length winner.

Former champion two-mile chaser Sprinter Sacre returned to something like his old self in second, with McCoy edged out for third place.