• Horse Racing

McCoy edges closer to new target

ESPN staff
October 26, 2010
Tony McCoy won the Grand National at the 15th attempt © Getty Images
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Tony McCoy says he is closing in on his "lifetime's ambition" but insists he has no intention of retiring just yet.

After winning the Grand National aboard Don't Push It, McCoy ended a 15-year wait for glory at Aintree, but he has now raised the bar. On course to be named Champion Jockey for the 16th consecutive year, McCoy is adamant he still has time to win at Aintree again.

Many thought his friend and rival Richard Dunwoody's total of 1699 British winners would never be matched, but after riding his 3000th winner in February 2009, McCoy now wants to double his rival's total.

"I've still got time to win another National, though. My lifetime's ambition is to ride twice as many winners as [Dunwoody] did now," McCoy said in the Evening Standard. "Make sure you tell him. Tell him I'm nearly there. I've only got something like another 200 to go!"

But while thoughts of retirement are firmly out of his mind, McCoy is adamant he will know when to call it a day.

"I always said that if I wasn't champion jockey I would give up," he said. "If I was in one piece and I wasn't champion jockey, then I wouldn't carry on riding, because obviously I wouldn't be as good as I was.

"I'm aware that sports people shouldn't carry on too long - you shouldn't get to the point where someone is saying, 'Why's he still riding, he's not as good as he was?' I've no plans to retire just yet, though. There's a lot to look forward to."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
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