Resolute McCoy has new target to fuel his ambition

Still nine short of his latest milestone after a rare blank at Carlisle yesterday, the 18-time champion jockey maintains that he has no plans to retire when he reaches the mark.

He is expected to partner top hurdler At Fishers Cross in Wetherby’s exciting bet365 Hurdle on Saturday – and his task is slightly less formidable following the disappointing withdrawal yesterday of the dashing grey Dynaste, trained by Pipe’s son David, after an unsatisfactory workout.

However the jockey believes that he still has sufficient hunger, at the veteran age of 39, to eclipse the record 4,182 winners that Pipe senior trained before his dominance was usurped by the emergence of Paul Nicholls and NH icons like Kauto Star, Denman and Big Buck’s.

Pipe has always been slightly disparaging about McCoy’s career, saying that his own total will never be beaten, and this now appears to be motivating Britain’s greatest jump rider, who is no respecter of records.

He was also rankled when connections of Jason Maguire, a stalwart of Yorkshire jump racing, signalled his intent to become champion jockey – and end McCoy’s dominance that extends back to the 1995-96 season – on the day that the 2013-14 campaign began at Wetherby in late April.

“In fairness, Jason rang me and said he was sorry and embarrassed,” said McCoy who heads to Stratford today for three rides. “He said he hadn’t said it, it was his then agent (Richard Hale). But sure it gives you motivation.

“I did feel it was a cheap shot while I was injured with broken ribs, but I came back after three and-a-half weeks when I really shouldn’t have been anywhere near a horse for another three-and-a-half weeks. The first horse I rode won at Ludlow and I was in bits. I should have been at home, but I was so obsessed, I did not care how my body felt.”

As for the future, McCoy has given the clearest indication yet that he intends to continue for the remainder of this season – and also the 2014-15 campaign – if he stays injury free and has horses of the calibre of Cheltenham hero At Fishers Cross to ride.

“I want to be able to retire at the top and if I am going to do that, it will mean retiring when I am champion jockey. That won’t be easy,” he added.

“But it won’t be when I ride 4,000 winners – that’s for sure. If I could get to 20 champion jockey titles and ride another 200 winners, I could beat Martin Pipe’s record.”

As for his association with Pipe during his formative years before becoming retained rider to JP McManus in 2004, later carrying the owner’s iconic green and gold silks to Grand National glory on Don’t Push It and Gold Cup success on Synchronised, McCoy offered this assessment.

“I just did what I was told,” he said. “I never asked any questions. He knew more than I did. If he told me to go 50mph on a horse, I did. I wouldn’t ask him why.

“After a year and a half, he actually started to joke in front of owners that there was no point telling me what to do because I wouldn’t listen. He knew I was trying to think along the same lines as him. I sort of gained his trust.”

While McCoy’s career is heading towards the final furlongs, his natural successor appears to be 21-year-old Sam Twiston-Davies, who said recently that he will be more than satisfied with 2,000 career wins – further evidence of the perennial champion’s superiority.

His burgeoning career was given a major boost when he was selected by former champion trainer Paul Nicholls to ride Unioniste in the bet365 Charlie Hall Chase at Wetherby on Saturday, and the popular Tidal Bay in defence of his bet365 Hurdle crown, after Daryl Jacob was ruled out with injury.

“Paul rang me at the start of the week to mention what the plan was going to be and I’m going down to school them both. It’s a massive weekend for me,” said an excited Twiston-Davies, who was in double form at Carlisle yesterday.

“I’m very grateful to the owners and Chris Broad (agent) as well for getting me on

“I’ve watched Unioniste plenty, usually because I’ve been finishing behind him – he looks a smashing horse. And I remember watching Tidal Bay when I was a kid, I always had a soft spot for him.”