• Horse Racing

McCoy rubbishes talk of retirement

AP McCoy has won the Cheltenham Gold Cup, Grand National and King George VI chase in his career © PA Photos

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AP McCoy has indicated he has no intention to retire from racing despite being on the cusp of his 4,000th career winner over jumps.

Following a quickfire double at Ffos Las on Tuesday, McCoy is now in touching distance of the historic landmark, but does not plan to hang up his saddle until he wins the British Jump Jockey championship for a 20th time.

McCoy, who has been crowned champion jockey 18 times, has revealed a fear of failure has spurred him on throughout his prosperous career - and that he is aiming to surpass Martin Pipe's (trainer) record of 4,182 career wins.

"I hate the thought of it [retirement]," McCoy told the Daily Mail. "There has always been a danger element to this sport, but I have always been able to accept the fact that I am going to get injured.

"I want to be able to retire at the top and if I am going to do that, it will mean retiring when I am champion jockey. That won't be easy.

"But it won't be when I ride 4,000 winners - that's for sure. If I could get to 20 champion jockeys and ride another 200 winners, I could beat Martin Pipe's record.

"I like winning and I like trying to win more than anyone else. There is the fear of failure. I have had that fear for 15 years.

"No matter how bad a day I've had, I can blank it out. After four or five losers, I might suffer a bit that night but I am able to go racing the next day as a totally new day."

Despite enjoying an incredible career over jumps, McCoy admitted he would not be tempted to turn his hand to training horses over fences once he decides to call time on racing.

"If [flat trainers] John Magnier or Sheik Fahad Al Thani said they wanted me to train 100 two-year-olds on the flat, I might think about it," McCoy said. "But, other than those two, probably not."

McCoy has won many major races during his career, including the English, Welsh, Scottish and Irish Grand Nationals, the Cheltenham Gold Cup and the King George VI chase.

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