Tony McCoy created history at Towcester today when Mountain Tunes provided him with his 4,000th career win over jumps.
McCoy reached the milestone with a typical power-packed never-say-die ride on n the Jonjo O’Neill-trainedstruck in the Weatherbys Novices’ Hurdle at 3.10.
The heavily backed 6-4 favourite, carrying the famous gold and green colours of owner JP McManus – to whom he has held a retainer for the last nine years – looked beaten when in third place between the final two flights, but McCoy kept perservering and pushing away and after jumping the last in a closing second the gelding stormed up the hill to get up near the line and win by 1/2 a length.
McCoy said: “It was just amazing, it couldn’t have worked out any better. To do it for Jonjo and the McManus’s is brilliant as they’ve been so good to me.
“It was always hopefully going to be in JP’s colours. Racing people are fantastic, they are so pleased for me.
“I’ve had the same agent, Dave Roberts, from day one and his dad sadly passed away yesterday so I’d like to dedicate this to him.
“To have Chanelle (wife), Eve and Archie (children) here is great and to do it in the McManus silks means a lot – Eve thinks they belong to me!”
The winning owner said: “I remember when AP came to the UK first, [trainer] Christy Roche brought him to my attention and he said, ‘This AP he’s getting 7lb, he should be giving weight away!’
“Little did we think that day that he would ride 4,000 winners or that anybody else would. Full marks to him, he’s a credit to the game, it’s a pleasure to have him around and every day with him is a most enjoyable day.
“I think the racing people are a closely knit community as is evidenced by recent events and AP is behind everything that is good and I am just so proud and pleased that I know him, and his family, and long may be continue.
“That was very nice [to win in my colours]. I was away last week and I was hoping I was going to be here to see it. Anyway it was very nice that he waited to ride one of mine and I’m chuffed that he did, and I’m sure it won’t stop here.”
McCoy recorded his first win in 1992 when just 17 and has been Champion Jockey every year he has been professional.
He claimed his first in 1995/6 and, as of 2012/2013, has won 18 consecutive Champion Jockey titles – beating the previous record of 7 consecutive titles by Peter Scudamore.