Racing: Record-chasing McCoy needs three wins

TONY MCCOY heads to Chepstow today in search of another record in his historic season. The champion jump jockey needs just three winners to reach 222 for the campaign and pass the mark reached by Peter Scudamore during the 1998/89 campaign.

McCoy took yesterday off after a week in which he equalled the record total of five Cheltenham winners set by Fred Winter in 1959 and matched by Jamie Osborne in 1992. On Sunday the Co Down-born rider received the accolade of Jockey of the Year at the Lesters ceremony in London.

McCoy has already this season raced to the fastest ever 50, 100, 150 and 200 winners in a season by a jump jockey. Today he rides three horses for Martin Pipe - D'naan, Pomme Secret and Mite Equal - plus Lannkaran for Tim Forster.

The Curragh racecourse, which hosts the start of the 1998 Irish Flat season on Sunday, has announced a new sponsor for the Irish 2,000 Guineas. Hibernia Foods plc has agreed a three-year contract for the sponsorship of the first of the Irish Classics.