McCoy dismisses talk of retirement when he reaches 4,000 career wins

Tony McCoy has ruled out any notion of retirement when he reaches 4,000 career wins over jumps.

The 18-times champion jockey is within touching distance of achieving the extraordinary milestone, but plans to remain in the saddle for some time yet.

McCoy said: “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.

“But it won’t be when I ride 4,000 winners – that’s for sure.

“If I could get to 20 champion jockeys’ (titles) and ride another 200 winners, I could beat Martin Pipe’s record (4,182 winners as a trainer).”

When asked in an interview with Peter Scudamore whether he would ever consider training, McCoy said: “Definitely not jumpers.

“If John Magnier or Sheikh Fahad Al Thani said they wanted me to train 100 two-year-olds on the Flat, I might think about it.

“But, other than those two, probably not.”

McCoy felt the team responsible for fellow jockey Jason Maguire had taken a “cheap shot” earlier in the year when he was sidelined with broken ribs.

Maguire’s connections had pledged to fight the perennial champion for the 2013-14 title, but McCoy said: “In fairness, Jason rang me and said he was sorry and embarrassed.

“He said he hadn’t said it, it was his then agent. 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.”

McCoy had two rides at Carlisle yesterday where he drew a blank and The Liquidator earned quotes of around 20-1 for the Neptune Novices’ Hurdle at Cheltenham in March after an effortless win at Carlisle in the Get Free Bets With Bookmakers.co.uk Novices’ Hurdle.

David Pipe’s five-year-old was a top-class bumper performer, finishing fourth at Cheltenham and winning at Punchestown, and took to his new discipline in very pleasing fashion.

Always to the fore under Tom Scudamore, his jumping was slick and fluent and his class enabled him to cruise to an 11-length win as the 2-7 favourite.

Sky Bet were one of the most generous with their quote of 25-1 and spokesman Michael Shinners said: “It was an impressive debut over hurdles from a good bumper horse, but it’s doubtful the bare form is up to much and he’s likely to want further in time.”

Pipe and Scudamore had already been on the scoresheet with French import Azza (1-6 favourite) in the Compare Bookmakers With bookmakers.co.uk Juvenile Hurdle.

Winner of a Listed event on her first start over obstacles in her homeland, she outclassed her rivals but was nowhere near as fluent in the jumping department as her stablemate.

However, Scudamore feels she should be offered a bit more slack as she is so inexperienced.

“The way we were spread out all over Carlisle, I think some found it tough in the ground but she handled it,” he said. “She was a little bit brave at a few but that will come with more experience, she’s got a really nice attitude which is the main thing, she wants to please which is a good place to start.

“It’s only the third run of her life and second over hurdles, her first was at Auteuil which is completely different so the fact she took it in her stride bodes well for the future.”

Another southern yard to make the long journey north worthwhile was that of Nigel Twiston-Davies who was on the mark with Hollow Blue Sky and Big Casino.

Both were ridden by his son, Sam, who was celebrating the news he has been chosen by Paul Nicholls to replace the injured Daryl Jacob on Unionist and Tidal Bay at Wetherby on Saturday.

Hollow Blue Sky was having his first run for 621 days in the Bookmakers On Your Mobile At bookmakers.co.uk Novices’ Handicap Chase but was still sent off the 7-2 favourite and held off The Nephew by a neck.

“Nigel can get them fit, he’s a great person to ride for when they are coming back from long absences as one thing he’s very good at is getting them fit and ready to run first time back,” said Twiston-Davies jnr.

“It was a bit rough, in novice handicap chases you have a lot of them with similar instructions but my lad is a big chasing type and would take some knocking over.

“He was an easy ride, the further he went the better he jumped.”

Big Casino looked well treated on his bumper form in the bookmakers.co.uk Handicap Hurdle and so it proved as he won by three and a half lengths.