McCoy bid must pass inspection

Tony McCoy’s bid for his 3,000th jumps winner is subject to an early inspection today as the weather continues to frustrate the 13-times champion jockey.

McCoy tries again at Bangor today – although the meeting must survive a 7.15am inspection – to move off 2,998 victories.

He is set to get the leg-up on Galaxy Rock in the opening EBF ’National Hunt’ Novices’ Hurdle and the McManus-owned Forty Five in the Delamere Warrington LLP Handicap Hurdle.

His next ride comes on Picture In The Sky in the Hampton Veterinary Group Novices’ Hurdle, and he then goes in the concluding Bangor-on-dee Racing Club Standard Open National Hunt Flat Race, in which he rides Paisley Cross.

McCoy is also pencilled in to ride at Newbury on Saturday, when he has been confirmed to take the mount on the Philip Hobbs-trained Belcantista in the totesport Trophy.

The prestigious card in Berkshire is subject to an 8am inspection on Friday morning.

McCoy failed to hit the target with two mounts at Taunton yesterday.

McCoy, who has been stuck on the 2,998 mark for over a week, was set to head to Huntingdon for a good book of rides yesterday afternoon but had to switch after that meeting was abandoned.

At first he had just one mount booked in the shape of the Philip Hobbs-trained Adare Prince, but he proved disappointing in the Carlsberg UK Handicap Chase and was pulled up a long way from home.

McCoy said: “When I was going to Huntingdon I wasn’t particularly worried about missing the ride on him.

“They did well to get a win out of him at Hereford but I had to come here as he is owned by the boss (JP McManus).

“It’s been a pretty quiet few days really as there has been nothing on at all.”

McCoy later picked up a last-minute ride on You Know Bridie for Neil Mulholland in the concluding Trull Mares’ Handicap Hurdle but after travelling strongly into contention, she eventually passed the post in third.