After more than a quarter of a century in the saddle and 18 consecutive champion jumps jockey titles, Tony McCoy says his ability to cope with pain is getting easier and will probably drive him in his quest for 5000 winners.

The 39-year-old McCoy was reminded once more of his ability to transcend his sport when he followed up his 2010 win by being voted third in this year's BBC Sports Personality of the Year award.

And a hunger to build further on his history-making 4000th winner at Towcester last month was evident when he flew in to attend the ceremony direct from Navan where he had numbered no winners and one fall earlier that same day.

For all his success McCoy is no stranger to setbacks. At the start of this season he suffered injuries that left him in intensive care for five days but he is adamant the breaks and bruises get no worse with age.

"When I broke my leg when I was 18 I thought I was going to die. It was the most painful thing that has ever happened to me," Mccoy said.

"Now I think my pain threshold is better than it has ever been, and I actually think that I can cope with it better. As with everything in life, it gets better the more you get used to it.

"I've said it a few times but I never think I'm going to get injured anyway. That doesn't sound very intelligent because I get injured quite a lot, but I think I'm always going to be OK."

McCoy's unquenchable thirst to set new benchmarks is plain to see in the enthusiasm he showed for his historic win at Towcester, and the delight he takes from continuing to prove wrong those who doubt his ability to continue.