Tony McCoy edged closer to Sir Gordon Richards's all-time record of 269 winners in a season thanks to a 50-1 four-timer on his first four mounts at Ludlow this afternoon.
McCoy, six times champion jump jockey in Britain, is now on the 248 mark for the campaign.
He took the opening Corve Novices' Selling Hurdle on the Martin Pipe-trained Doukash (2-7), the Clun Handicap Chase on Native Man (5-2) for Jonjo O'Neill, the Onny Novices' Hurdle on Pipe's Miss Cool (9-4) and the Lugg Novices' Chase on Lanmire Tower (5-2) also for O'Neill.
His hopes of a five-timer were dashed when his mount, the 5-4 favourite Firetree was an early faller in the Arrow Handicap Hurdle won by 40-1 outsider Frileux Royal.
As a result, the Tote have suspended their book on McCoy breaking Sir Gordon's record.
"When 1-16 starts to look a juicy price, that's the time to suspend betting," said Tote spokesman Jeremy Scott.
"McCoy needs just another 22 winners in the 57 racing days left, and at this rate he'll have time to land the record and get a few weeks skiing in before the end of the season!
"We're still betting on him reaching the next landmark of 300 for the season but have had to cut him from 4-9 to 2-9 to achieve this."
PA