"During every race, an ambulance trails the riders around the course. You know that sometimes you are going to end up in the back of that ambulance."
Sir Tony McCoy
Showing posts with label AP_McCoy. Show all posts
Showing posts with label AP_McCoy. Show all posts
Wednesday, 30 May 2018
Saturday, 7 February 2015
AP McCoy Plans Retirement
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| Getty Images |
Tony McCoy announced his decision to retire by the end of the season, after riding his ninth double-century, but revealed his "broken heart" at not being able to ride 300 winners this season.
Just minutes after Mr Mole gave McCoy his 200th winner of the season after favouriteSire De Grugy unseated three out in an incident-packed Betfair Price Rush Chase at Newbury, the champion jockey told Channel 4 Racing of his intention to stop riding.
Not seen since following up his Champion Chase success at Sandown last April, the Gary Moore-trained Sire De Grugy was sent off at odds-on but made a bad mistake four from home before parting company with Jamie Moore at the next.
That left a simple task for Mr Mole, who will test his credentials at the top level in the two-mile championship next month.
All that was overshadowed, however, when McCoy revealed his retirement plan.
"It's going to be the last time I ride 200 winners," he said.
"Having spoken to Dave (Roberts, agent) and JP McManus, I am going to be retiring at the end of the season."
McCoy said: "I want to go out at top, I want to go out as champion jockey and it will be my 20th year if I can win the jockeys' championship.
"I want to go out while I still enjoy riding and am still relatively at the top."
His wife Chanelle said: "It's a decision he's battled with very much, some days he's at peace with it and some days he's sad. It will be great for him to go out on a high and hopefully we will get him out in one piece."
She went on: "It's a very big decision and a decision like that he has to live with, so he has to make it himself.
"He knew my preference for him to retire at the end of the season, but I never pushed him. He's very much his own man and he makes up his own mind."
Richard Johnson has long had to play second-fiddle to McCoy in the jockeys' championship, and he said: "It wasn't the biggest shock in the world I suppose, but it's more set in concrete now.
"There'll be a few people relieved and will have a few more chances, but it's a great loss to lose him from the weighing room.
"We all know we'll get to that point sometime. It will be an even bigger shock after Sandown (end of the season) I suppose, but I'm sure we'll still see him around the racecourse and his achievements will live on for a long time."
McCoy said he will "really miss" riding when he retires at the end of the season, adding: "Time waits for no man, so it's not going to wait for me."
He later admitted that he had nearly decided to quit last April, but had decided to wait and see if he could ride 300 horses this season.
"I probably, believe it or not, had actually spoke to JP about it in April, that it was a possible. I got a real thing about going out in a blaze of glory and I thought through the early part of the season that I was going to ride 300 winners.
"Then I got injured at Worcester and I went back riding a few days after having been in a lot of pain. That probably wasn't the brightest thing to do, but I thought I had to - if I was going to ride 300 winners, I thought I had to keep riding.
"That kind of broke my heart a little bit. I thought that I could ride 300 winners and the fact that was taken away broke my heart a little bit.
"It's emotional because I'm retiring from something I like doing. That's tough."
AP McCoy Facts & Figures
Champion jockey: 1995-6, 1996-7, 1997-8, 1998-9, 1999-2000, 2000-1, 2001-2, 2002-3, 2003-4, 2004-5, 2005-6, 2006-7, 2007-8, 2008-9, 2009-10, 2010-11, 2011-12, 2012-13, 2013-14
Best season: 289 winners in 2001-2
1,000th winner: Majadou, Cheltenham, December 11, 1999.
2,000th winner: Magical Bailiwick, Wincanton, January 17, 2004.
3,000th winner over jumps in Britain and Ireland: Restless D'Artaix, Plumpton, February 9, 2009.
4,000th winner over jumps in Britain and Ireland: Mountain Tunes, Towcester, November 7, 2013.
Champion Hurdle winners: Make A Stand 1997, Brave Inca 2006, Binocular 2010.
Cheltenham Gold Cup winner: Mr Mulligan 1997, Synchronised 2012
Champion Chase winner: Edredon Bleu 2000.
King George VI Chase winner: Best Mate 2002.
Grand National winner: Don't Push It 2010.
:: McCoy started working with horses at the age of 13, working full-time from leaving school at 15. His weight rocketed after some time off with a broken leg following a fall whilst employed at Jim Bolger's and this was the deciding factor which drove McCoy from Flat to jumps racing.
:: McCoy's riding injuries have included: broken middle and lower vertebrae, both shoulder blades, both collarbones, ribs, ankle, cheekbones, wrist, ankle and leg plus a dislocated thumb and chipped teeth.
:: It took McCoy 15 attempts before sealing an elusive first victory in the Grand National aboard the gambled-on Don't Push It in 2010. Bookmakers recorded a loss of around £50million on the race.
:: McCoy has been the retained jockey for owner JP McManus for 10 years.
:: In 2003 McCoy was awarded an MBE in the Queen's Birthday Honours and an OBE in 2010.
:: He became BBC Sports Personality of the Year in 2010, beating Phil Taylor and Jessica Ennis-Hill to the coveted trophy. It was the first time a jockey had been awarded the honour.
:: His first novel 'Taking the Fall' was published in November 2013 by Orion. Its central character is Duncan Claymore, a super-talented conditional jockey who is nonetheless struggling.
:: AP spends at least two hours a day and six days a week sweating in the bath or sauna (equivalent of 1.3 years of his life). On average AP sweats off 2-4Ib per session.
:: McCoy was crowned champion conditional jockey at 21 after riding 74 winners in the 1994/1995 season, when attached to the yard of trainer Toby Balding.
:: McCoy has been crowned champion jockey 19 times.
:: McCoy was 17 when riding his first winner, Legal Steps, to victory for Jim Bolger at Thurles in 1992.
:: McCoy rode his first winner in England aboard the Gordon Edwards-trained Chickabiddy at Exeter on September 7, 1994.
Saturday, 26 April 2014
McCoy Set for Title 19
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| Getty Images |
AP McCoy will become champion jump jockey for the 19th successive year at Sandown on Saturday.
McCoy, who is 40 next month, rode more than 200 winners this season despite missing the start through injury.
The record-breaking Northern Irishman was hurt in a fall at Cheltenham in April 2013 which left him in intensive care.
In November, he passed the mark of 4,000 career wins with victory on Mountain Tunes at Towcester.
His triumphs in the 2013-14 season, which ends at the Surrey track on Saturday, have come at a winning strike rate of 24%.
McCoy finished more than 60 wins ahead of nearest rival Richard Johnson, who has never been champion and is runner-up for the 15th time.
"You start off at the beginning of the season and the goal is to be champion, and I've been lucky enough to achieve it 19 times," McCoy told 5 live. "I'd like to achieve it again next season if possible."
Fellow jockey Sam Twiston-Davies told 5 live: "We all look up to him massively. He's the most amazing man and we're all very lucky to be riding in the same era as him."
Paul Struthers, chief executive of the Professional Jockeys' Association, said: "What can one say about AP McCoy? He is simply a phenomenon.
"Who would have predicted almost two decades ago when he became champion jump jockey for the first time that he would not relinquish the title for almost 20 years? And he is still going strong in his 40th year and will soon be aiming for title number 20 in 2014/15.
"As well as being the greatest jump jockey in history, he is also a terrific gentleman and a true ambassador for our sport."
Paul Nicholls will be champion trainer for the eighth time, after beating last year's winner Nicky Henderson.
Gavin Sheehan will receive the annual award as champion conditional jockey.
Thursday, 7 November 2013
Towcester Enjoys Real McCoy
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The 18-time champion reached the unprecedented milestone on Mountain Tunes in the 15:10 GMT race.
McCoy finished fifth on Church Field in the 14:10 GMT handicap hurdles.
His 3,999th win came at Chepstow on Wednesday after switching to Jonjo O'Neill's-trained Minella For Steak when original ride Mission Complete was declared a non-runner.
Sent off the 6/4 favourite, Mountain Tunes looked to be struggling on the home turn but gradually closed in upon leader Kris Spin from the second-last flight and under the kind of determined drive that has become McCoy's trademark, he got up in the last strides to score by half a length in the colours of owner JP McManus, with whom so many of his recent successes have been shared.
"It's incredible - I didn't think he was going to do it," McCoy's wife Chanelle told At The Races amidst chaotic scenes in the Towcester winner's enclosure.
"Our hearts were absolutely in our mouths. Everybody is here, his father, his brother, Mr McManus. We'll be celebrating tonight in our pub The Outside Chance."
"It couldn't have gone any better," the rider added, before getting drenched with champagne from his weighing-room colleagues. "It's amazing - the racing people are fantastic. I'm so pleased I did it for Jonjo and JP and [McManus' wife] Noreen, who have been so good to me."
Mountain Tunes for Real McCoy
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| Getty Images |
AP McCoy hopes Mountain Tunes might be the horse to provide him with his 4,000th winner this afternoon at Towcester.
McCoy rode winner No 3,999 at Chepstow on Wednesday when he took a spare ride on Jonjo O'Neill's Minella For Steak, who ploughed through the mud to score.
Now he takes his quest to the Northamptonshire track, where a bumper crowd is expected, for two more rides for O'Neill and owner JP McManus in Church Field (2:10) and Mountain Tunes (3:10), who is running for the first time under rules after running in Irish point-to-points.
Speaking to Sky Sports News, McCoy said: "It would be great if Mountain Tunes or Church Field could win today. Jonjo and JP have been so supportive and we've had such good days together, that would put the icing on the cake.
"Church Field won four times in the summer on much better ground than it is going to be today. Conditions will be more testing than he has ever won on and the handicapper has slowed him down, but hopefully he's got a good chance.
"Towcester is a demanding track and with the ground being pretty soft with a stiff finish, it's going to sap a lot of horse's stamina.
"Mountain Tunes hasn't run in this country before and it's a competitive looking novice hurdle. There's a few in there that look to have a good chance; Kris Spin and Prideofthecastle for the Pipes.
"I think they are pretty pleased with him but you just don't know how horses are going to cope with today's conditions. Hopefully he will cope better than the others. Hopefully I'll like him more after ten past three!
"I don't know much about him but I am hoping for a bit more of a surprise from him than Church Field."
Monday, 4 November 2013
Exeter to Record McCoy Landmark
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| Getty Images |
Tony McCoy heads to Exeter for three rides tomorrow on what could prove a landmark day in the record-breaking champion jockey's career.
A double at Kempton courtesy of Captain Cutter and Foundation Man left McCoy on 3,998 career winners over jumps - and two successes at Exeter would see him reach the magical 4,000 at the track that saw him register his first British winner back in September 7, 1994, on the Gordon Edwards-trained Chickabiddy
Captain Cutter survived a less-than-fluent round of jumping to ultimately run out a comfortable winner of the Weatherbys Bank Foreign Exchange "National Hunt" Novices' Hurdle.
Nicky Henderson's Punchestown bumper runner-up was the 4-11 favourite for his debut over timber and moved sweetly enough in the hands of the 18-times champion.
There was a slight moment of concern for his supporters as the six-year-old made a mistake four flights from home and he was also less than convincing at the final obstacle, but his class advantage was clear as he came home 10 lengths clear of Fine Words.
Talking about Captain Cutter's mistake four flights from the finish, McCoy said: "When he jumped, he almost caught his head. It could have been worse. He could have knuckled over, but thankfully he didn't.
"With the price that he went off at, he won the way he should have.
"He is a nice type of horse, he needs to brush up on his jumping and needs a bit of experience.
"He has started off well. I'm not sure he is the easiest horse to ride, but hopefully he will be (in time), all being well."
McCoy added to his tally with his final ride from three on the card as 11-10 favourite Foundation Man claimed victory in the Weatherbys Bank Foreign Exchange Handicap Chase.
Jonjo O'Neill's charge received a reminder from McCoy down the back straight, but mastered Lemon's Gent from the home turn and looked to have the race in safe keeping jumping the second-last.
Upton Mead came from further back to try to make a race of it under a familiar foe in Richard Johnson, but Foundation Man safely negotiated the final obstacle and was always doing enough to hold on by two and three-quarter lengths.
McCoy said: "He has been a disappointing horse, to be honest.
"He was going everywhere but forward, but he obviously has ability and he can improve. He is taking a step nearer and he is getting better.
"You can see from the size of him that he is a chaser, and hopefully he will improve with every race he runs."
Assessing his chances at Exeter, McCoy said: "I wouldn't say they are good chances. Flemenson is probably the best one."
The O'Neill-trained Flemenson bids to make in two from two over obstacles in the opening novice hurdle at the Devon venue, while McCoy also rides Keen Eye in a similar event and Well Hello There, also trained by O'Neill, goes in a handicap chase.
Saturday, 2 November 2013
McCoy Close to 4,000
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| Getty Images |
AP McCoy says his main ambition for the season is to win a 19th champion jockey title despite closing on 4,000 winners.
The 39-year-old Northern Irishman moved to eight victories away from the milestone after highly rated hurdler Jezki won at Down Royal on Friday.
"I'll hopefully be lucky enough to ride eight winners, then we can carry on and see what else we can achieve," he said.
"Hopefully I can end the season as champion jockey - that's the most important thing."
McCoy, who has been champion jockey in every season since he turned professional in 1995-96, steered the 2-9 favourite Jezki to a three-and-a-quarter-length victory in the WKD Hurdle.
He was riding at the track in Northern Ireland, which is 40 miles from where he grew up in County Antrim, for the first time in five years.
"It's great to be home. I'm not sure how many more days I will be back at Down Royal," said McCoy, who is the only jump jockey to have ridden more than 3,000 winners in his career.
"Obviously it is nice to ride 4,000 winners. It's something I would be very proud of if I was able to achieve."
He is expected to have 13 chances of adding to his tally over the weekend, with seven Wetherby rides on Saturday and six Sunday bookings at Carlisle, but is not predicting when he might reach the landmark.
"You've got to look at [paralysed riders] John Thomas McNamara or Jonjo Bright to realise you take it day by day as a jump jockey," he told BBC Northern Ireland.
"My aim at the beginning of the season is to be champion jockey and this year was no different. It's a good benchmark as to where you are in your career."
Factfile
Born: Moneyglass, County Antrim
Age: 39
Champion jockey: 18 times consecutively
First winner: Legal Steps, Thurles, March 1992
3,000th winner: Restless D'Artaix, Plumpton, February 2009
Thursday, 24 October 2013
McCoy's Five at Carlisle
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| Getty Images |
Tony McCoy made good headway towards securing 4,000 winners over jumps by riding a stunning five-timer at Carlisle.
In doing so, the perennial champion jockey sailed past 100 victories for the season. McCoy now needs just 16 winners to set yet another record in a truly remarkable career.
His first four winners came in the green and gold silks of his boss, JP McManus, with three of the horses trained by Jonjo O’Neill at Jackdaws Castle in Gloucestershire.
McCoy gave O’Neill’s Milan Bound a patient ride in the opening starsportsbet.co.uk Novices’ Hurdle at Carlisle to bring up his century for the season, before following up on board Pendra, Upswing and Finding Your Feet.
The Charlie Longsdon-trained Pendra finished second in the Tolworth Novices’ Hurdle last season and locked horns with a similarly smart prospect in Nicky Richards’ Eduard in the Call Star Sports On 08000 521 321 Beginners’ Chase.
The race was just hotting up at the second-last as Eduard was still on the bridle when he made a slight error which handed the initiative to the 4-5 favourite, who coasted home by three and three-quarter lengths.
“I only watched the race on the TV, but it looked to me as if Eduard was still going just as well as us when he made the mistake,” said Longsdon. “I’ve got to be very happy, he jumped well considering we hadn’t been able to school him on grass and he didn’t really have a race. His jumping will no doubt get slicker and that is part of the reason we ran him over two miles.
“We may stick over two for his next run, I’ll have to see what AP says. There’s plenty of room for improvement, obviously, but it was a pleasing introduction for him.
“Sometimes you might want them to have a race as they learn more and there is no doubt the first two are smart. Don’t forget Eduard had a higher rating over hurdles than us.”
When told Pendra had been given a quote of 16/1 for the Jewson Novices’ Chase at the Cheltenham Festival, Longsdon said: “He’s not quick enough for an Arkle, he’s bred for three miles. The Jewson would probably be right at this stage unless AP tells me something wildly different.”
Pendra was win number 101 for the season after Milan Bound had earlier brought up McCoy’s ton.
The 6-4 chance did not jump all that fluently but drew level with runner-up Fayette County and Blakemount at the final flight and came away from the former by half a length.
Upswing barely came off the bridle in the Star Sports Follow Us On Twitter @star-sportsbet Intermediate Handicap Hurdle.
Racing off a 6lb higher mark than when victorious over course and distance in March, the five-year-old travelled through the race with ease.
Coverholder gamely attempted to make all of the running, but McCoy hardly moved on Upswing (7-4 favourite), who jumped into the lead at the last and won by a cosy three-quarters of a length.
Finding Your Feet (6-4 favourite) was by far the most fortunate of McCoy’s winners as Dickie Henderhoop fell at the last when clear in the first division of the Star Sports-sponsored two-and-a-half-mile handicap hurdle.
McCoy, who jumped the last in third, sensed his opportunity and his mount stayed on strongly to beat Rocking Blues by four lengths.
Tutchec (3-1 joint-favourite) then made just about every yard of the running under McCoy to take the Star Sports Be Polite Handicap Chase for trainer Nicky Richards, who had earlier hit the target with the Brian Harding-ridden Moufatango (5-1).
Carrigdhoun (10-1) won the feature Star Sports Trader Betiquette Handicap Chase for trainer Maurice Barnes and jockey Stephen Mulqueen, whose partner gamely held off the veteran Vic Venturi by three-quarters of a length.
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