It has been a remarkable week for Tony McCoy. On Monday he received a fourth consecutive Derby Award for National Hunt Jockey of the Year at the Horserace Writers and Photographers Association annual lunch, the first time any recipient at the awards ceremony had achieved such a feat.

And yesterday he became only the fifth jumps jockey in history to record 1,000 winners when Majadou landed the Wragge & Co Handicap Chase at Cheltenham.

At the moment McCoy is still fifth in the all-time list but it could be a good bet that the unassuming 25-year-old will be at number four before the Cheltenham Festival gets underway with Stan Mellor's total of 1,035 well within his sights.

In fact, the Irishman seems already to have dismissed those totals together with Scudamore's 1,678 having already declared his next target as Richard Dunwoody's all-time record.

That currently stands as 1,699 although the former champion, currently injured, is unlikely to remain on the riding scene for much longer.

Speaking immediately after receiving a tumultuous reception from the Cheltenham crowd, and a bronze memento from the course executive, McCoy declared: "I don't know what the next record I'll try to break is - maybe get a deal like Roy Keane! But seriously, I suppose I'll be trying to beat Richard Dunwoody's all-time record of winners."

"Richard's not finished yet as I think he'll keep going but I'll be doing my best to beat him.

"However, the main priority for me will be stay in one piece."

McCoy is aware of the public's perception of him and has been feeling the pressure as he neared the record. "I must admit I got very frustrated after Rodock got beat in the big hurdle at Sandown last weekend."