McCoy reaches 4,000 milestone

AP McCoy completed the remarkable feat of riding 4,000 winners on Thursday, just a few days after he rode to victory on Jezki at the Down Royal Festival of Racing.
By The Newsroom
Published 8th Nov 2013, 11:11 BST
AP McCoy at Friday's Down Royal Festival of Racing. McCoy, who has been champion jockey in every season since he turned professional in 1995-96, was riding at the track for the first time in five years. He steered the 2-9 favourite Jezki to a three-and-a-quarter-length victory in the WKD Hurdle, moved him to eight victories away from the milestone of 4,000 winners. Picture: Cliff DonaldsonAP McCoy at Friday's Down Royal Festival of Racing. McCoy, who has been champion jockey in every season since he turned professional in 1995-96, was riding at the track for the first time in five years. He steered the 2-9 favourite Jezki to a three-and-a-quarter-length victory in the WKD Hurdle, moved him to eight victories away from the milestone of 4,000 winners. Picture: Cliff Donaldson
AP McCoy at Friday's Down Royal Festival of Racing. McCoy, who has been champion jockey in every season since he turned professional in 1995-96, was riding at the track for the first time in five years. He steered the 2-9 favourite Jezki to a three-and-a-quarter-length victory in the WKD Hurdle, moved him to eight victories away from the milestone of 4,000 winners. Picture: Cliff Donaldson

McCoy, who has been champion jockey in every season since he turned professional in 1995, was riding at the track for the first time in five years.

He steered the 2-9 favourite Jezki, owned by JP McManus, to a three-and-a-quarter-length victory in the WKD Hurdle, to move him to eight victories away from the milestone of 4,000 winners.

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And he achieved that feat on Thursday, rallying 6-4 favourite Mountain Tunes to a half-length success in the Weatherbys Novices’ Hurdle at Towcester after he had looked to be struggling.

AP McCoy at Friday's Down Royal Festival of Racing. McCoy, who has been champion jockey in every season since he turned professional in 1995-96, was riding at the track for the first time in five years. He steered the 2-9 favourite Jezki to a three-and-a-quarter-length victory in the WKD Hurdle, moved him to eight victories away from the milestone of 4,000 winners. Picture: Cliff DonaldsonAP McCoy at Friday's Down Royal Festival of Racing. McCoy, who has been champion jockey in every season since he turned professional in 1995-96, was riding at the track for the first time in five years. He steered the 2-9 favourite Jezki to a three-and-a-quarter-length victory in the WKD Hurdle, moved him to eight victories away from the milestone of 4,000 winners. Picture: Cliff Donaldson
AP McCoy at Friday's Down Royal Festival of Racing. McCoy, who has been champion jockey in every season since he turned professional in 1995-96, was riding at the track for the first time in five years. He steered the 2-9 favourite Jezki to a three-and-a-quarter-length victory in the WKD Hurdle, moved him to eight victories away from the milestone of 4,000 winners. Picture: Cliff Donaldson

The landmark victory was delivered, exactly as 39-year-old McCoy had wanted, in the green and gold colours of his boss, owner JP McManus, and for trainer Jonjo O’Neill.

McCoy spoke of his pride at his achievement, and then refused to rule out reaching the seemingly impossible 5,000 milestone.

Speaking about his time at the Down Royal Fesitval he said: “I’m originally from not far from here – this was probably

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the first racecourse I went to as a child – so it’s nice to be back.

“I haven’t been here for five years. The last time was when I won on Jered. It is just the way things have worked out with

my commitments in England. I am pretty busy over there.

“But this was a ride I really wanted and I am glad I came over now.

“It’s good to get a winner any time, but it’s great to win here again.

“It is nice to be home,” he concluded.

Related topics:McCoyTowcesterEngland