Whip ban for McCoy after victory

Tony McCoy was at his brilliant best to win on his only ride of the day at Wincanton yesterday, defying two late challenges to prevail on Stradbrook in a three-way photo-finish. The champion jockey's hard-fought success took him two victories away from a landmark total of 3,000 winners over jumps.

The 34-year-old, who is now on a career figure of 2,998, was cheered by punters who backed the 3-1 favourite. But the stewards at the Somerset track took a dim view of McCoy's ride and imposed a one-day ban (12 February) for using his whip with excessive frequency. The stewards also penalised Richard Johnson, the rider of the runner-up, for the same offence and he was banned for two days (12 & 13 February).

Few other riders, if any, could have held on for victory like McCoy did yesterday. He was at his strongest after the seven-year-old Stradbrook hit the front early in the straight and – having appeared to have the measure of all his rivals – suddenly began to tire on the run to the line.

First Johnson challenged on Oiseau De Nuit on the stands' rail, and then Timmy Murphy charged home on Tender Falcon on the far side. The three crossed the line in unison, a trio of riders at the top of their game, and while none had done anything wrong, it was McCoy – in the centre – who prevailed by the narrowest of margins.

McCoy said: "The race didn't go to plan and I'd have preferred a faster pace even though it is heavy ground. I didn't want to be too far back and I probably got there a bit early. I think Richard's horse was in front of me for most of the last 100 yards and when Timmy's horse came at me on my outside, my horse just stuck his head down again. I'd say 10 yards before the line Richard was in front and five yards after the line Timmy was in front."

The McCoy roadshow now moves to Chepstow today where the 13-times champion jockey originally had only two booked rides – both in the colours of JP McManus – but late yesterday he picked up a spare mount on Jim Best's Man Of The Moment.

McCoy also rides Gabreselassie in the opening novices' hurdle and is in action 30 minutes later aboard Fourball in a handicap chase. Both horses are trained by Jonjo O'Neill.

Speaking about the fact he could only get one ride at Wincanton, McCoy said: "I couldn't get another ride [today] and that is being honest.

"We are having to decide where I go on Saturday, Doncaster or Sandown, and at the moment I'm doing my best to pick between one ride at each and I'll have to see whether I can get something at either meeting to go along with them. At the moment all I've got is Clew Bay Cove at Doncaster or Good Moment at Sandown. Because there will be so few runners at Sandown, it is not by choice.

"All the people that are riding today are riding for their retained stables so I've no divine right to be riding their horses. I'm not lucky enough to get on the best horses all the time."

The champion continued: "I love my job, I love going racing through the week and I love going out and being competitive. We'd all like to ride the good horses all of the time and it is the one thing I still thinks sets Lester Piggott apart from the rest as he was able to get on any horse that he wanted to.

"He won 30 Classics and nine Derbys so he was probably entitled to as he was the best jockey I've ever seen and I'd love to be able to do that. No disrespect to the lads he rode with but he was obviously that much better, that if you had a horse with a chance in a Classic you wanted him on it.

"Lester probably was not the most well-liked man in the weighing room but he probably wasn't that bothered. A lot of the top trainers these days all have their own jockeys and they want to be loyal to them so I suppose racing in general has changed in that sense."

Victor Chandler quote odds of 11-4 against McCoy reaching the 3,000 landmark today, while offering 6-4 he will reach the magical number tomorrow. Should he fail to strike on either day, you could back him at 9-4 for him to complete the task on Sunday with the bookmaking firm offering 9-2 that it drags into next week.

If the achievement is delayed until Monday, the weather could cause a further hold-up for the champion. Market Rasen have already abandoned the three chases scheduled for Tuesday's meeting due to an unraceable track.

Andrew Morris, the acting clerk of the course, made the trip to Lincolnshire to assess conditions yesterday and he did not hold out much hope of the course improving enough to race. He said: "Parts of the home straight on the chase track are waterlogged and the forecast is for further rain so abandoning the chases gives the best chance of racing going ahead." Market Rasen will now stage two extra hurdle races and a bumper to compensate for the loss of fencing action.

Lingfield have abandoned the three hurdles scheduled for Monday's meeting and will now rely on a chase and bumper card. The hurdles track is currently waterlogged and yesterday officials made an early decision to call off the hurdle races.

Lingfield today (Hyperion's selections): 12.40 They All Laughed; 1.10 Augustus John; 1.40 Bomber Brown; 2.10 Melt; 2.45 Art Fund; 3.20 Sir Liam; 3.55 Straight Face; 4.30 Elusive Ronnie.

2,998 winners

McCoy's three booked rides at Chepstow today: Gabreselassie (1.20); Fourball (1.50); Man Of The Moment (4.10).