Shropshire’s horse racing fraternity today united to pay tribute to Tony McCoy after the jockey further cemented his status as a National Hunt legend.

McCoy collected his 3,000th jumps winner yesterday after registering a double at Plumpton.

The feat was achieved aboard Restless d’Artaix in the Tyser & Co Beginners’ Chase, and was the catalyst for a string of tributes to follow.

South Shropshire trainer Richard Lee said: “I watched it yesterday and it was fantastic. He’s a nice chap and an unbelievable rider – a phenomenal man.

“He has ridden for us a few times. I’m not sure if he has ridden any winners for us but he’s ridden plenty for others!

“Even after achieving what nobody else has ever done before yesterday, he was signing autographs straight after.”

Shropshire has played host to 94 of McCoy’s winners at Ludlow, with a further 82 coming at border course Bangor-on-Dee.

And Ludlow clerk Bob Davies believes the 13-times champion is a throwback to bygone eras. “He rides like a lot of old fashioned jockeys and encourages horses to go into the jumps whereas the majority don’t do that now,” said Davies, himself a former jockey.

“It’s very hard to compare different eras because there are more meetings and bigger stables today. But he would have been outstanding in any generation.”

Peter Scudamore, former champion jockey: “When I set my record (1,678 winners) I never thought it would be beaten, especially in such a manner. 

“He’s unbelievable and it makes me feel an idiot to be honest!

 “It’s a fantastic achievement and he’s a great advert for racing. 

“My only defence is we never had summer jumping in my day and when I joke with him about it that is what I say, he has a few extra months a year to get winners. 

“He’s an extraordinary man, he’s such a gentleman and a fantastic jockey to boot.”