Racing

Robert's Toy gave Martin Pipe his 2,000 winner as a trainer in Britain at Hereford last night. Pipe, who trained his first winner in 1975, won the Grand National with Miinnehoma in 1994.

n The jockey Tony McCoy crashed through the pounds 1 million prize money barrier when partnering La Menorquina to an easy victory in the Vowchurch Novices' Hurdle.

The young Irishman is due to be crowned Champion jumps jockey this weekend after a meteoric rise to the top which has seen him steer home 174 winners this term.

"This was the target for me this season and now the next one is to go to Perth next week and start all over again," reported McCoy.

"My agent Dave Roberts is raring to go as we notched up 22 winners last summer jumping season which helped set me up for the championship," he added.

McCoy's plans for the future include taking a week off in the near future to visit his family in Ireland but he is not sure how he can fit that into his busy schedule at present.