McCoy takes record search to Uttoxeter
Tony McCoy’s winners’ roadshow now heads to Uttoxeter tomorrow in search of a double to beat Richard Dunwoody’s record breaking career total of 1699.
Champion jockey McCoy had six chances of reaching the magical figure of 1700 winners at Newton Abbott today but left the Devon track with just a brace of victories courtesy of Rakaposhi Lass and Lunar Crystal.
He said: "To be honest I thought I’d have two winners and that’s the way it went. I would have been disappointed if Rakaposhi Lass and Lunar Crystal had not won but the others were just there with chances.
"My mounts at Uttoxeter tomorrow all seem to have some sort of chance and I suppose Mighty Montefalco and Delaware appear to be my best chances of getting there."
The afternoon had started with a scare for McCoy as Rakaposhi Lass, making her hurdles debut in the Pot Black Maiden Hurdle following three runaway wins in bumpers, made a hash of the first flight with the jockey losing an iron as a result.
However, in true McCoy fashion he soon regained his composure and, despite a few more less than fluent jumps, Rakaposhi Lass went on to score by six lengths from Winnie The Pooh.
Sweet Senorita dropped away tamely in the Tony Gale Birthday and Retirement Claiming Hurdle after cutting out the early running to finish a disappointing fourth behind winner Tarski.
McCoy was forced to pull up Versicium five fences out in the Mandrake Associates Handicap Chase taken by Moon Glow. He later reported to the stewards that Martin Pipe’s gelding had lost his action.
But the champion was back in the winning grove when persuading Lunar Crystal to put his best foot forward and lift the Summer Jumping Novices Handicap Hurdle Final by a couple of lengths from Ragdale Hall.
Kandy Four fell five out in the Summer Jumping Novices Handicap Chase Final but McCoy was soon on his feet.
The prize being landed by Ricko who took advantage of Lincoln Place’s last fence fall to collect in the hands of Robert Thornton.
McCoy’s sixth and final ride of the afternoon Mother Says in the concluding Pot Black Standard NH Flat Race could only finish a distant third behind easy winner Sento.
