McCoy edges two closer to milestone
The incredible 4,000-winner milestone is fast approaching for the perennial champion jockey after he secured five victories at Aintree over the weekend and he headed to Wales with a strong book of five rides.
After going down by just a head to Berea Boru aboard the Rebecca Curtis-trained Gate Please in the Racing Post Weekender Out Every Wednesday Maiden Hurdle, McCoy then finished third on the same trainer’s Captain Moonman in the Racing Post Weekender Out Tomorrow Handicap Hurdle.
McCoy made it third-time lucky, however, as he drove out Jonjo O’Neill’s 7-4 favourite Minella For Steak to a one-and-three-quarter-length victory over Ifyouthinkso in the O’Brien And Partners Handicap Hurdle.
The jockey told At The Races: “He won all right, in fairness. He had one to aim at all the way down the back.
“The amazing thing is he coped with the heavy ground, as his wind has never been great.
“He seemed to jump better than he has in the past.
“The trainers horses are flying and he is placing them well.”
McCoy quickly completed a brace as smart hurdler Taquin Du Seuil made a winning start over fences in the Stradey Park Novices’ Chase.
Faced with just three opponents, last season’s Challow Novices’ Hurdle winner was a little deliberate at some of his early fences, but gradually warmed to his task.
O’Neill’s 4-9 favourite loomed up ominously alongside Bob Ford in the straight and eased clear from the final fence to score by two lengths.
McCoy said: “He was very professional and jumped pretty well, on the whole.
“He’s a proper horse.”
Taquin Du Seuil was given a quote of 16-1 for the Jewson Novices’ Chase at the Cheltenham Festival.
McCoy said: “With horses like that, on a day like today, you just want to get them round safe and sound.
“Nice horses are hard to come by, so you want to mind them. You just don’t want anything to happen to them.
“He galloped into the last a bit, which was a bit clumsy, but he was very good.
“It’s about keeping him safe, making sure he learns his job and learns a bit about jumping for when he is in a more competitive race and going a bit faster.”
McCoy was well fancied to complete a hat-trick in the concluding bumper, but the Curtis-trained Red Devil Lads (5-6 favourite) had to make do with second place behind Evan Williams’ impressive winner Capilla (6-1).
Williams had earlier struck gold with even-money favourite Get It On in the AVA Security Handicap Chase.
Winning jockey Conor Ring said: “He was good. He travelled well through the race and jumped well.
“I didn’t want to get the front too soon, but he went away well.”
Local trainer Hywel Evans saddled his first winner under Rules as 10-1 shot Tom Bach claimed the 32Red Handicap Chase under Liam Treadwell.
Evans said: “I’m very pleased and a bit surprised.
“I’m (based) 10 minutes away from here, I’m a dairy farmer and did a bit of hunting and point-to-point rider as a youngster.
“This place is so close I thought I might as well get a permit and it’s paid off.”
