No fairytale ending for AP McCoy
A FAIRYTALE finish to a glittering career did not come to pass for AP McCoy, who competed in his last Grand National yesterday.
The 40-year-old Antrim jockey enjoyed support from all quarters but none as heartfelt, perhaps, as that from Archie, his 20-month-old son who this time last year was recovering from cardiac surgery.
McCoy tweeted a picture of the toddler holding a sign reading: ‘Good Luck Daddy.’
Beneath it, McCoy wrote: ‘Thanks for all the good luck, messages especially the 1 from this little man.’
The record-breaking jump jockey – riding in his 20th Grand National – was in contention throughout the race on 7/1 favourite Shutthefrontdoor. But he tailed away towards the end, finishing fifth. Instead, 25/1 shot Many Clouds rode to victory in Aintree securing a two-in-arow for jockey Leighton Aspell.
He became the first jockey since Brian Fletcher on Red Rum in 1973 and 1974 to win back-toback Grand Nationals.
With it being McCoy’s last Grand National, punters weighed in behind Shutthefrontdoor. A win for the JP McManus-owned favourite would have cost the Irish bookmaking industry close to €12m.
And for a long way it appeared that he might do it. And the collectine sigh of relief from nervous bookies was almost audible as Many Clouds managed to hang in there.
Padyy Power spokesman Féilim Mac an Iomaire said: ‘We were sweating bullets towards the end of the race as a win for McCoy in his final National would have hit us harder than Jeremy Clarkson hits a producer.’
Among lifelong Arsenal supporter McCoy’s wellwishers was the team’s manager Arsene Wenger who said: ‘I wish him good luck for his last race and he will have enough time afterwards to support us. Wenger also praised McCoy’s longevity as ‘a sign of top quality’. The champion jockey will retire at the jump season’s finale at Sandown in a fortnight. The most successful jump jockey of all time he rode having ridden over 4,000 winners since 1992.