McCoy Reaches 3,000 at Plumpton

Legendary jockey Tony McCoy has secured his 3,000th British and Irish National Hunt victory at Plumpton.

The 13-times champion reached the milestone aboard Nicky Henderson's Restless D'Artaix in the Tyser & Co Beginners' Chase.

Given a typically assured ride from McCoy, the 13-8 favourite brought the house down at the East Sussex venue with a gritty defeat of The Package.

McCoy, 34, had been stranded on 2,998 triumphs since January 29 when he won on Stradbrook at Wincanton.

After a success earlier in the day on Hello Moscow, McCoy and Miss Sarenne agonisingly crashed out at the last when well in control of the Weatherbys Cheltenham Festival Betting Guide 2009 Mares' Novices' Hurdle.

All was forgiven 35 minutes later, however, when Henderson's seven-year-old showed great resolve to score by a length.

McCoy became the all-time winning-most jumps jockey in Britain, beating Richard Dunwoody's record of 1,699, when scoring on Mighty Montefalco at Uttoxeter on August 27, 2002.

He also eclipsed Sir Gordon Richards' record total of 269 winners in a season on Valfonic at Warwick on April 2, 2002.

Born in County Antrim in 1974, McCoy began his career on the Flat and bagged his first winner, Legal Steps, at Thurles in March 1992.

McCoy said: "It's great, I've been very lucky with my agent (Dave Roberts).

"A lot of thanks must go to Dave Roberts.

"He's helped me since I started and, without him, this wouldn't be possible.''

Henderson said: "He starved himself to ride the filly that fell (Miss Sarenne) and he was genuinely gutted about that.

"He's ridden two finishes and I think he was the only person that would have won on either of them.

"The one that looked an easy winner goes and tips up.

"After that it was fair justice that we got it over with today.

"What sets him apart from the rest is advertised today.

"It couldn't be wetter, it couldn't be colder, he's starving to bits, but he can go and ride finishes like that.

"He's quite extraordinary and that's why he gets to those quite incredible numbers.

"You'll never see numbers like this again."