RACING: Tony McCoy is likely to have to wait until at least Wednesday to pass the milestone of 3,000 National Hunt victories despite moving to within three of the target at Kempton today.
The Co Antrim rider, 34, has shattered record after record so far in his career and has already ridden many more winners than anyone in his sport.
McCoy had two from four rides at the Sunbury venue, both in the colours of his retained owner, JP McManus, with one each from his two main trainers, Nicky Henderson and Jonjo O’Neill.
Henderson’s Ainama looked a bright prospect in taking division two of the Calverts Carpets Novices’ Hurdle impressively while O’Neill’s Pop Ahead put in a showstopping jump at the last en-route to the Calverts Carpets Handicap Chase.
“You saw why he’s (McCoy) so good there,” said O’Neill. “The horse wasn’t great over the first couple of fences but he just got him jumping as sweet as a nut. It was poetry in motion.”
His other mounts made little impression and he heads to Taunton on Tuesday afternoon for two bookings, with Tim Vaughan’s Jokers Legacy and the Henderson-trained Larks Lad both appearing to hold decent chances.
The 13-times champion jockey is then likely to be in action at either Leicester or Exeter on Wednesday.