Box Office has failed to deliver a fairytale ending for Tony McCoy with the 20-time champion jumps jockey having to settle for third in his farewell ride at Sandown.

The capacity crowd cheered McCoy from the moment he entered the paddock to mount the 5-2 favourite, applauding him past the stands on the way to the start of the race.

Despite travelling well three flights from home, the Jonjo O'Neill-trained runner found little under pressure and had to settle for a place behind Brother Tedd, ridden by Richard Johnson, 15 times runner-up to McCoy in the jockeys' title.

"It's amazing. I've been so lucky all my life. I'll never forget this day," McCoy said.

McCoy was mobbed by fervent racegoers on his return to the enclosure in front of the sell-out crowd of 18,300.

O'Neill is under no illusions about the hole McCoy will leave in his stable.

"He's the greatest man in the game. He's good to work with, a true professional," he said.

"What I can say does not justify how great he is.

"We will not see the like of him again."

Johnson paid an emotional tribute to his long-time rival and friend.

"It's a sad day. He's been one of my best friends for a long time," he said.

"It's great to ride a winner but it's an amazing day for him, he's the one we should look at.

"Twenty years of good memories and we will still be friends for a long time."

The 40-year-old's departure marks the end of his long domination of the National Hunt sphere, which yielded 31 Cheltenham Festival winners as well as two Gold Cups and one famous Grand National success.

McCoy bows out having dominated the jockeys' title for two decades, with the now-decommissioned trophy awarded for one final time before his ride in the AP McCoy Celebration Chase in which he finished third on Mr Mole.

A total of 4357 career winners have been banked since he first struck gold with Legal Steps at Thurles in March 1992, with Capard King giving him a final triumph at Ayr on April 17.

He has set many records during that time, most notably posting 289 winners in the 2001/02 season, surpassing Sir Gordon Richards' long-standing record of 269 victories in the process.

"I've been very lucky and very blessed to have the life I've had," McCoy said.

"What I'd say to the young lads in the weighing room is to enjoy every minute of it.

"I'm a little embarrassed by everything's that's gone on and I feel very privileged."

McCoy has yet to announce what he will do next, but admits his next challenge will be the transition to life outside of the weighing room.

"The biggest regret is that I don't have any qualifications," he said.

"Training is not an option and I don't do comebacks.

"I have been in racing so long it will take a little while to get out of that regime and start to eat like a normal person."