Tony McCoy close to 3,000 winners!

No joy for McCoy as weather worries champ

TONY McCOY left Fontwell on Sunday no nearer to taking his career total to 3,000 winners and increasingly concerned that deteriorating weather conditions will leave him frustrated once again on Monday.


Having drawn a black from two rides at Sandown on Saturday, the most successful jockey in jump racing was once again out of luck at Fontwell, where he finished third aboard 4-6 favourite Burton Point and eighth on 5-1 shot Blue Teal.

Those defeats leave McCoy stuck on 2,998 winners, and though booked for three strong Jonjo O'Neill-trained fancies at Southwell on Monday, the 13-time champion jockey was realistic that snow-hit Southwell could be abandoned following a morning inspection.

"I've got a couple of chances at Southwell, but that's not looking good," said McCoy. "I wasn't that impressed looking at the pictures from Southwell, but you never know.

"For the sake of everyone, I wouldn't want this to drag out. I want to ride winners. I thought Burton Point might win, but I couldn't have thought that Blue Teal would definitely win. It's a bit disappointing, but it's hard when you haven't got that many chances. I had three or four good rides earlier in the week at Leicester and that was called off and then I had a couple of good rides at Chepstow on Friday, but that was called off as well."

Assessing hisSouthwell mounts, McCoy added: "Supreme Keano (2.30) wouldn't be the easiest horse in the world to ride, but he might hopefully be able to win again.

"Carnival Town (3.00) is a law unto himself. He won at Chepstow last time but tried to run into the stableyard. It depends how he fancies going around Southwell and past the gate there a couple of times.

"Paisley Cross (4.30) has been a little disappointing, but he ran okay at Exeter last time, so hopefully he has a chance."

WHILE snow and sub-zero temperatures continue to thwart Tony McCoy's quest for 3000 winners, Stan Mellor can sympathise with the champion's frustration having suffered a similar experience when on the brink of creating racing history.

The first jump jockey to ride 1000 winners was stuck on 999 for eight days before achieving the milestone although in his case it was a matter of results, not the weather, turning against him.
Mellor, 71, said on Monday: "I know how Tony must be feeling and it is incredibly frustrating when your goal is so near, yet so far.

"I rode my 999th winner at Cheltenham on a Friday and had six rides back at Cheltenham the next day and felt sure I was going to do it, but didn't ride a winner. "

The following week saw a media caravan follow Mellor around Britain only to see him suffer a series of disappointments before partnering Ouzo to win a novice chase at Nottingham on December 18 1971.

"I have probably ridden better because there was a lot of pressure," admitted Mellor.

Carlisle a good chance for McCoy to hit 3,000


TONY McCOY would appear to have a good chance of reaching the landmark of 3,000 winners at Carlisle on Wednesday - if the meeting beats the weather.

McCoy has been stuck on 2,998 since last Thursday, when he won on his only mount of the day, Stradbrook, at Wincanton.

He drew a blank from his two rides at Sandown on Saturday and both of his rides at Fontwell on Sunday were also wide of the mark.




With Southwell cancelled because of the snow on Monday, the roadshow now moves on to Carlisle, where McCoy is booked on two rides for Jonjo O'Neill and two for Donald McCain.



Twilight Eagle is his first mount in the 'Cheltenham Preview Evening 5th March' Novices' Handicap Chase for O'Neill and the six-year-old would look to hold some sort of a chance.

Then it is the two rides for McCain, Cromwell Court and Huckleberry, and the trainer thinks they both have strong claims.

"It would be great if he could break the record on one of ours. I'm a big fan of his, he's great for the sport and it would be nice to help him along the way," said McCain.

"Jason Maguire is suspended at the minute and I book Tony when I can. Obviously you are not going to book the champion jockey for no-hopers.

"Cromwell Court won well the last day and he's probably a bit better going right-handed too, and a stiff two miles will suit. I hope he's going there with a real chance.

"Huckleberry spat the dummy out last time when he pulled up. He's run well over this trip at Carlisle before and he jumps and stays. He would have asqueak."
carlisle racecourse



McCoy finishes for the day on Johns Square, but with a bit of luck the milestone may already have been reached by then - if the meeting takes place at all.

Carlisle was under snow all day on Tuesday, but now the problem appears to be frost and there is a 3pm inspection this afternoon.

"Things are improving and the snow is thawing," said clerk of the course Andrew Tulloch.

"We could just about race today. We have frost sheets down on the take-offs and landings, but we are forecast minus two or minus three tonight.

"We are just hoping it doesn't get that cold."

further inspection at 8am wednesday

McCoy record attempt frustrated


Tony McCoy's hopes of claiming his 3,000th career win over jumps has again been frustrated after Carlisle was abandoned because of a frozen track.

The 13-time champion jockey is currently on 2,998 winners and was due to have four rides at Carlisle.

But, after a 0800 GMT inspection on Wednedsay, the meeting was called off.

McCoy, 34, should also have been in action on Monday at Southwell and at Market Rasen on Tuesday but both fixtures were lost because of snow.



He edged to within two winners of the landmark number with victory onboard Jonjo O'Neill's Stradbrook at Wincanton on 29 January.

But overnight temperatures in the north west plummeted to nearly -4C.

And clerk of the course Andrew Tulloch quickly accepted defeat.

He said: "We've had a look, but we are still frozen. There is unfortunately no prospect of racing."

This jock is not very good cant even ride 2 winners in 1 week. Can we delete this thread.

No Sly, this is great stuff, he may have not had a winner, but due to weather he has not had a ride! But I am sure you are aware of this?
Lets concentrate on the soccer tonight and back to McCoy in the morning.

All the best and may the best team win!

Huntington does not look good? McCoy has 3 mounts, 2 very strong.

Huntingdon abandoned due to snow


HUNTINGDON'S fixture has been abandoned due to snow. Official at the track woke up to find the course completely covered in snow, leaving no alternative but to pull stumps.

Clerk of the course Andrew Morris said: "We were raceable yesterday afternoon, but the issue was always going to be if rain or snow arrived. We've had three and a half inches of snow and there is no prospect of it thawing. It would have been naieve to continue."

The abandonment will prove another another difficult pill to swallow for Tony McCoy, who was due to have four rides at the track. The weather has thwarted McCoy several times already this week, and the champion jcokey remains marooned on 2,998 career winners.

McCoy picked up a spare at taunton.

Tony McCoy will travel to Taunton on Thursday as he bids to close in on his 3,000th career win over jumps.

The 13-time champion jockey, who is currently on 2,998 winners, was due to have four rides at Huntingdon.

But the meeting was called off on Thursday morning because of snow at the Cambridgeshire track.

However, the 34-year-old will now go to Taunton to replace Richard Johnson on Adare Prince in the Carlsberg UK Handicap Chase at 1550 GMT.

McCoy will hope to move to 2,999 winners aboard the horse, which is owned by his boss JP McManus and trained by Philip Hobbs, and who he rode to victory last time out at Hereford.

He edged to within two winners of the landmark number with victory onboard Jonjo O'Neill's Stradbrook at Wincanton on 29 January.


He should have been in action on Monday at Southwell and at Market Rasen on Tuesday but both fixtures were lost because of snow.

McCoy was also set to have four rides at Carlisle on Wednesday but the meeting in Cumbria was called off because of a frozen track.

McCoy remains on 2,998 mark after Taunton trip

TONY McCOY was no nearer to reaching a personal milestone of 3,000 jumps winners after his two rides at Taunton on Thursday proved fruitless.

The 13-time champion jockey, who remains on 2,998 victories, had travelled to the course after Huntingdon was abandoned but was out of luck on his first ride, Adare Prince, who was pulled up.

McCoy fared a little better on his second mount, You Know Bridie, who finished third, having looked a big threat on the turn for home.


His quest continues at Bangor on Friday, should the meeting survive a 7.15am inspection.



He is set to ride Galaxy Rock in the opening EBF 'National Hunt' Novices' Hurdle and the JP McManus-owned Forty Five in the Delamere Warrington LLP Handicap Hurdle.

Picture In The Sky is McCoy's mount in the Hampton Veterinary Group Novices' Hurdle and, in the concluding Bangor-on-Dee Racing Club Standard Open National Hunt Flat Race, he rides Paisley Cross.

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

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

I admit,its becoming about exciting as watching a game of cricket, however its big news in racing circles.