RACING NEWS: Tony McCoy rode into the National Hunt history books at Uttoxeter yesterday when he overtook his idol Richard Dunwoody's record of 1,699 career wins over the jumps.
After drawing level with Dream With Me in the opening Countryside Alliance Novice Hurdle, win number 1,700 followed immediately; riding Mighty Montefalco in the Everedge Handicap Hurdle.
"Obviously I am over the moon. I'm not sure how Richard is feeling, but he is a very good friend of mine," said McCoy. "He was my hero and for me the best jockey I have ridden against, although Adrian Maguire and Charlie Swan would be right up there. I am pleased to be mentioned in the same breath as him (Dunwoody)."
When asked whether there was room for improvement, McCoy replied: "My boss Martin Pipe thinks he can improve on his training performance, and if that is so, I must feel the same way."
Pipe, who trains Dream With Me and was watching on television at his Nicholashayne base in Devon after undergoing surgery on his right ankle, said: "I am delighted to be associated with him. I get a great buzz and a great thrill every time he rides for me. Just looking at the stats you can see why he is such a great jockey."
Pipe has been associated with not only McCoy, but Dunwoody and Peter Scudamore, the second and third most successful jump riders, have also been the stable jockey to the master trainer.
Pipe believes it is difficult to compare the three riders. He said: "They are all very good in their own sphere. Scu was a brilliant front runner, Richard Dunwoody was terrifically stylish and McCoy is the ultimate."
The 7,000-plus crowd at Uttoxeter sensed it would be McCoy's day and weighed in with a staggering £82,000 in bets on Mighty Montefalco, who started at 13 to 8 on.
The six-year-old, trained by the former champion jump jockey Jonjo O'Neill, has had leg problems but any doubts about him not handling the firm ground were soon dispelled.
McCoy was content to ride a waiting race as My Good Son built a fair lead. But he moved up on the home turn and quickly began to gain ground on the leader.
However, My Good Son was not making life easy for him, fighting back under David Dennis when headed, and it took every bit of the champion's strength to get his game mount up close home.
"The horse certainly gave his all," said a relieved McCoy. "I think he will sleep well tonight."
The achievement adds to a long list of records broken by McCoy, including his 289 victories earlier this year to beat Sir Gordon Richards's record (269) for the number of winners in a season.
Trainer Toby Balding, who gave McCoy some of his early breaks in his first season in Britain in 1994-95, said: "I suppose it is the main feat he has achieved and in that context it is the most amazing one when you consider how quickly he has done it. You've also got to consider there's probably half as much again to come."
Guardian Service
See also page 22
