How does McCoy rank alongside racing's all-time greats?

McCoy romped home on 1-3 favourite Dream With Me in the Countryside Alliance Novices' Chase at Uttoxeter to move level with Dunwoody on 1,699 winners.

And he then staged a late charge on the Jonjo O'Neill-trained Mighty Montefalco to set a new mark of 1,700.

Since his first winner in 1992, McCoy has established himself as the dominant rider of his generation, and in April this year he broke Sir Gordon Richards' 55-year-old record of 269 winners in a season.

Is McCoy the best of all-time? And how does he rank alongside Flat racing greats like Richards and Lester Piggott?

I once saw Dunwoody win on Unguided Missile at Ascot... the horse fell flat on his stomach three out... went about 10 lengths down... but Dunwoody produced him to win on the line.
Paul Mckay, UK

Greatest jockey? So many odds-on shots count in his tally (the mother-in-law could have ridden most home); his dietary restrictions could seriously damage his future health (ask any trained specialist); and, most importantly, he unfairly demands over-exertion from tired horses at times.

Remember that contest where he remounted and climbed over fences, and refusing to be unseated from the ill-fated Liver Bird at Haydock - a shocking fall!

Many, many superior horsemen I'm afraid - including Culloty, Johnson, Dobbin, Carberry, Walsh and Maguire of the current crop. It's the Martin Pipe factor...and nothing else!
Derek Bentall, Crawley, England

I don't think that I have ever known in my experience (40 years) a more committed jockey than Tony McCoy. You can say that he is riding for Martin Pipe, and therefore regularly harvests winners at small meetings and in small races. That's true of course, but remember that Martin Pipe also had Peter Scudamore and Richard Dunwoody as his stable jockeys.

Pipe always goes for the best and has been breaking records himself for years. Francome was a great horseman and was probably the best at presenting a horse at a fence, but he didn't have McCoy's will to win.

How many times have we seen McCoy riding a horse which has been off the bit and under the whip a good half mile from home and yet he has come home first?

The only thing I have against Pipe and McCoy is that they are very hard on the horses. You don't often see Pipe's horses going on year after year winning races. It's normally a year or two running up a sequence of wins and then they go wrong and are never heard of again.

In spite of that, there can be no better recommendation to back a horse than when you see "trained M. Pipe, ridden A. McCoy" - they truly are the punter's friend.
Martin Taylor, United Kingdom

What does McCoy have to do before he gets any recognition from the British public, he has already broken ever record there is to break in racing and he still doesn't get short listed for the BBC's Sports Personality of the year!
Ritchie Jackman, England

Tony McCoy is by far the greatest jockey that we have ever and, dare I say, will ever see. How many times have you seen him "rowing" away on a horse with a circuit to go, yet sure enough the same horse is still in contention at the final fence.

You have to admire his determination and dedication, what with struggling with his weight (although the same can be said about a lot of jockeys) to his knowledge of form and timing of pace; unlike Dunwoody, Tony can win on front runners or hold up horses.
Chris Dunn, UK

Congratulations Tony on a magnificent achievement. You are the ultimate punter's pal. Simply the best.
Kristian Evans, Wales

AP McCoy is without doubt one of the legends. But why do we never see the legends that make up the Ulster rugby team on our TV screens? Shame on you BBC.
Mr M Reid, Northern Ireland

Congratulations to the most underrated sportsperson in Britain. McCoy for Sports Personality of the Year.
Kristian Evans, Wales

Tony McCoy has joined an elite band that consists of George Best, Joey Dunlop, Alex Higgins, Roy Keane and Sonia O'Sullivan. Like them, he is one of Ireland's greatest ever sporting figures.
Kevin De Ornellas, Ireland

The thing about AP is not only is he the best around, he gives a horse the same commitment and determination if it is a selling race or the Gold Cup, which is what the ordinary punter likes to see. Keep up the good work AP, you are a credit to the racing industry.
Richard Uzell, Ireland

Congrats to AP. He is truly a great jockey and will continue to be until his retiring day. With the aid of Pipe horses the total will grow and grow. He is by far the best jump jockey for a long time.
Jameela Hassan, Isle of Man

AP is set to win twice as much in half the time of his predecessors - I think that says it all! He is a pretty intense character, but he shows an amazing will to win that is sorely lacking in other British sportsmen. He is the man!
ER, N Ireland

He cannot yet be considered to be the best jockey ever, as the amount of low class races he has won raises serious doubts about his real talent. Whilst I admire his determination to win, his regular failure at high profile meetings is poor to say the least.

I consider that had Jonathan Lower remained fit and well and afforded the same opportunities he would be equally as successful as McCoy. Indeed, anyone regularly riding long odds on shots and selling race certainties would be equally successful.

In my opinion, the jury is still out until such time as he can prove himself consistently at the higher calibre meetings.
Frank Clarke, Ireland

AP is an excellent jockey, a true champion and a really decent guy as well. My 15-year-old daughter is Horse mad, and one of AP's biggest fans. She approached him after a win at Newton Abbot (on Delaware) to get his autograph.

He was still catching his breath after dismounting, but, like the great ambassador for his sport he is, he paused for a minute or two, signed her race card for her and made her day. What a gent, what a jockey. Thanks, AP.
Peter Bolton, UK

Congratulations to Tony McCoy, who is a great jockey and also a wonderful sportsman. Many people will say that the main reason he has done so well is because he rides for the champion trainer Martin Pipe.

Obviously Tony has ridden the majority of his winners aboard Pipe's horses, but it is his never-say-die attitude and amazing strength on every horse he rides that has got him where he is today. He is a well respected rider and the punter's friend.
Phil Walker, England

In terms of winners ridden I don't think there will ever be a greater jockey than Tony McCoy, but I think the most stylish jockey I've ever seen is John Francome. In terms of horsemanship he must rank as the best.
Ray Newby, United Kingdom.

McCoy's one of the best, but greatest ever jockey? Probably not. My vote in what is likely to be a seriously contentious poll would go to the man I consider the purest horseman in racing history, John Francome.
Peter Fermoy, England

AP is simply the best, and at only 28 has many more champion seasons ahead of him. I was lucky enough to see him ride Make A Stand to victory in the 1997 Champion Hurdle...awesome! There is only one, and he is the real McCoy. Congratulations.
Chris Fayle, Isle of Man

Congratulations Tony. I've said it before and I'll say it again. You're the greatest. You've made me a millionaire and I have to thank you. My mate Wayne Kennedy says "Thank you, Sir Tony, your riding abilities are second to none. Every time you jump on a back I know you're a surefire winner!"
Mark Drysdale, Ireland