CHAMPION JOCKEY TONY McCoy is set to have his 20th and last ride in the Grand National today aboard the Jonjo O’Neill-trained Shutthefrontdoor, owned by JP McManus.
The 40-year-old from County Antrim has set the scene by stating earlier this week that should he win a second National this weekend he will retire straight after the Aintree marathon.
Some of AP’s most memorable winners have come on Merseyside and no other rider has had more success in the history of the meeting. For the weeks that’s in it, here’s a look back at his three most memorable rides at Aintree:
In 1998, McCoy won for the very first time over the Grand National fences. The Martin Pipe trained Cyfor Malta went off as the 5-1 second favourite and ended up winning by 13 lengths.
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McCoy would go on to win the John Hughes Trophy, now known as the Topham Chase, again two years later with another Pipe runner Northern Starlight.
One of AP’s most famous rides came in the Aintree Hurdle in 1998. Nobody expected him to beat the great Istabraq, especially after finishing fourth behind him a months previous in Cheltenham.
It looked like Pridwell would once again lose out as he trailed Istabraq going into the final two obstacles. But McCoy did manage to find another gear and we witnessed one of the most thrilling finishes in Aintree history.
1. Don’t Push it wins the Grand National
After 14 failed attempts, McCoy finally won the big one in 2010. Up until that point the best he had done were third place finishes on Blowing Wind and Clan Royal but with Don’t Push It he was finally able to claim Grand National glory.
Going off as a 10-1 joint favourite, it came down to Don’t Push It and Black Apalachi as they jumped the last. To the crowd’s delight, Don’t Push It jumped lovely and had enough to pull away and win by five lengths.
A remarkable year was capped off for McCoy when he became the first ever jockey to win the BBC Sports Personality of the Year.
It’s hard to gauge Shutthefrontdoor’s chances. Originally priced at 25-1, and after running only once this year, the news that this would be AP’s last ride has seen the horses odds slash to 7-1 at the highest.
The question we must ask ourselves is whether this price is warranted or due to sentimental reasons? Punters will pay out of their nose to support the brand recognition McCoy possesses, especially when his face is everywhere this week.
But the price does have merit. Shutthefrontdoor won last season’s Irish Grand National at Fairyhouse and did win his only start at Carlisle in November.
With two wins already this week, on board Jezki and Don Cosack, can Tony McCoy cap off the perfect farewell this Saturday with a win in Grand National?
The end of an era: One more Merseyside memory for McCoy?
CHAMPION JOCKEY TONY McCoy is set to have his 20th and last ride in the Grand National today aboard the Jonjo O’Neill-trained Shutthefrontdoor, owned by JP McManus.
The 40-year-old from County Antrim has set the scene by stating earlier this week that should he win a second National this weekend he will retire straight after the Aintree marathon.
Some of AP’s most memorable winners have come on Merseyside and no other rider has had more success in the history of the meeting. For the weeks that’s in it, here’s a look back at his three most memorable rides at Aintree:
3. First win over fences
In 1998, McCoy won for the very first time over the Grand National fences. The Martin Pipe trained Cyfor Malta went off as the 5-1 second favourite and ended up winning by 13 lengths.
McCoy would go on to win the John Hughes Trophy, now known as the Topham Chase, again two years later with another Pipe runner Northern Starlight.
2. Pridwell beats Istabraq
One of AP’s most famous rides came in the Aintree Hurdle in 1998. Nobody expected him to beat the great Istabraq, especially after finishing fourth behind him a months previous in Cheltenham.
It looked like Pridwell would once again lose out as he trailed Istabraq going into the final two obstacles. But McCoy did manage to find another gear and we witnessed one of the most thrilling finishes in Aintree history.
1. Don’t Push it wins the Grand National
After 14 failed attempts, McCoy finally won the big one in 2010. Up until that point the best he had done were third place finishes on Blowing Wind and Clan Royal but with Don’t Push It he was finally able to claim Grand National glory.
Going off as a 10-1 joint favourite, it came down to Don’t Push It and Black Apalachi as they jumped the last. To the crowd’s delight, Don’t Push It jumped lovely and had enough to pull away and win by five lengths.
A remarkable year was capped off for McCoy when he became the first ever jockey to win the BBC Sports Personality of the Year.
This year’s hopeful — Shutthefrontdoor
It’s hard to gauge Shutthefrontdoor’s chances. Originally priced at 25-1, and after running only once this year, the news that this would be AP’s last ride has seen the horses odds slash to 7-1 at the highest.
The question we must ask ourselves is whether this price is warranted or due to sentimental reasons? Punters will pay out of their nose to support the brand recognition McCoy possesses, especially when his face is everywhere this week.
But the price does have merit. Shutthefrontdoor won last season’s Irish Grand National at Fairyhouse and did win his only start at Carlisle in November.
With two wins already this week, on board Jezki and Don Cosack, can Tony McCoy cap off the perfect farewell this Saturday with a win in Grand National?
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