Tony McCoy’s 10 greatest rides topped by Don’t Push It in National | Sport | The Guardian This article is 1 year old 1 Don’t Push It The Grand National Aintree 10 April 2010 McCoy was in danger of being remembered most of all for never having won a Grand National. His mounts seemed to do everything possible but win, falling, unseating him, pulling up and even, on one occasion, being carried out by a loose horse when clear of the field. But he finally landed the most famous prize of all at the 15th attempt on Don’t Push It, a 10-1 shot who led at the last and never looked like getting collared from there on. “I’m being a big wuss,” was McCoy’s emotional reaction. “It means everything to me.” 2 Wichita Lineman William Hill Trophy Cheltenham 10 March 2009 He somehow lifted home this 5-1 Festival favourite who seemed intent on ruining his chance by clobbering every other fence. Wichita Lineman was, in the end, a tough and willing partner but his chance seemed gone at the third-last.

Maljimar cruised into the lead at the second-last, while McCoy’s elbows were working away like pistons many lengths behind. Somehow, he rallied his mount to poke his nose in front in the dying strides. Of all his thousands of wins, this is the one of which one can say, no one else could have won it. 3 Pridwell Martell Hurdle Aintree 4 April 1998 Trained by Martin Pipe, who did so much to start McCoy’s record-breaking habits,, Pridwell was a popular animal who won 13 times over hurdles. Still, he seemed short of top class and was nearing the end of his career when McCoy somehow conjured this Grade One victory out of him against Istabraq, regarded by some as the most brilliant Champion Hurdler there ever was. Istabraq was long odds-on but perhaps did not relish the mud through which Pridwell and McCoy slogged with such determination.

Tony McCoy announces he will retire from racing at end of season Read more 4 Family Business Feast of St Raymond Novice Chase, Southwell 23 January 2002 This low-profile, low-quality contest would, in the ordinary course of events, have been forgotten by almost everyone within a week. McCoy was doubtless frustrated to be unseated at the 10th but, being McCoy, he kept an eye on what happened to the remaining four runners and, as they also fell by the wayside, remounted Family Business in game pursuit of the £4,000 prize. The chestnut threw in some further dodgy leaps but the champion jockey kept his seat and they finished alone, the first winners ever to have been traded at 999-1 on Betfair. 5 Mountain Tunes Weatherbys Novice Hurdle, Towcester 7 Nov 2013 In the week building up to this, his 4,000th winner, McCoy gradually acquired an enormous media following as he moved from Kempton to Exeter to Chepstow and finally to Towcester.

This was his final ride of the day and it had begun to seem as though the new record would have to wait for another 24 hours as Mountain Tunes, on his hurdling debut, jumped awkwardly and lagged behind. Then, as so many horses had before, he responded gamely to his rider’s urgings and found a way past his rivals, despite being knocked sideways at the last. 6 Mr Mulligan Cheltenham Gold Cup 13 March 1997 The first of two Gold Cup wins, achieved when he was just 22. He inherited the ride on this chestnut on its previous start, when they fell at the last in Kempton’s King George. Mr Mulligan was not the most natural or fluid over a fence and he was sent off at 20-1. They came home nine lengths clear and many a backer made a mental note to take more interest in this jockey’s mounts in future.

Tony McCoy will leave a huge void in racing after 20 unbroken years on top Read more 7 Mini Sensation The Devon Marathon, Exeter 3 December 2004 Another victory that McCoy somehowpulled off after the doubters on Betfair had allowed his mount to reach odds of 999-1 in mid-race. Mini Sensation was capable, having won a Welsh National a couple of years before, but he was rather a plodder who needed a certain amount of encouragement to keep pounding after his rivals. He was on a losing run of eight which seemed sure to become nine as McCoy was hard at work with a circuit to go. He still had plenty to do three out but somehow hit the front with 50 yards to spare. 8 Synchronised Cheltenham Gold Cup 16 March 2012 Another Welsh National winner, Synchronised was rather better than a plodder as it turned out and he managed to win a Grade One in Ireland during the preceding winter. Even so, he was allowed to start at 8-1 for what seemed a hot race, with Kauto Star and Long Run among the opposition.

He was outpaced for much of the way and was still only sixth with three to jump but kept responding and edged to the front on the run-in, giving McCoy the most recent of his two Gold Cups. 9 Best Mate King George VI Chase Kempton 26 December 2002 The triple Gold Cup winner was normally the mount of Jim Culloty, whose sympathetic riding style was in contrast to the all-action manner with which McCoy is most associated. Some felt that McCoy could never be a natural fit for this particular horse and indeed they had been narrowly beaten in the previous King George, but that had something to do with connections urging conservative tactics on a horse whose stamina was unproven. This time, McCoy had a freer hand and they led for most of the straight, outbattling Marlborough to record the jockey’s only success in the race. 10 Brave Inca Champion Hurdle, Cheltenham 14 March 2006 One of three victories in this race for McCoy but perhaps this one will linger longest for his association with the doughty Brave Inca, a sort of equine McCoy, whose effort was nearly always evident and who had to struggle for most of his many wins.

He had come up short by a neck under Barry Cash the previous year and would be beaten under Ruby Walsh the following year but he produced the best effort of his career for McCoy, holding off Macs Joy and Hardy Eustace. Grand National 2010: Tony McCoy secures his reputation as a sporting colossus - Telegraph Horse Racing Grand National 2010: Tony McCoy secures his reputation as a sporting colossus His place in the sporting pantheon was never in doubt but there was always something cruelly missing from AP McCoy’s cv. Champagne moment: AP McCoy finally broke his Grand National duck on Don't Push It Photo: GETTY IMAGES By Ian Chadband 8:47PM BST 10 Apr 2010 Like Ali without a world heavyweight championship belt or Jack Nicklaus without a green jacket, he needed this Grand National triumph as the moment to place the exclamation mark next to his greatness. Everybody sensed it. The depth of rare pleasure in the roar which swept across Aintree was not just about the favourite delivering a pretty penny; it was about the people’s race being won by the people’s jockey.

Like Lester Piggott in his heyday on the Flat, the nation has always trusted the spirit and talent of this bravest, hardest and most unbreakable of all Irishmen. Well, make that a hard-as-nails Irishman who was reduced to weeping, as he put it, like “a big wuss”. But who could blame him? “It’s a very emotional day for a man who doesn’t get too emotional,” explained his proud wife, Chanelle. Related Articles Chips are on Black Apalachi 09 Apr 2010 By the end on this most glorious of Aintree afternoons, a few hardened racegoers were shedding tears with the pair of them in the sunshine. There could have been any number of serious fairytales in this ever-romantic spectacle. We might have had a woman winner – Nina Carberry was a splendid seventh; we might have had a schoolboy winner, but Sam Twiston-Davies finished fifth; we might, for goodness sake, have had a National winner raised on a slag heap over an allotment but, sadly, Dream Alliance pulled up a mile adrift. So what? We ended up with the best story of all; AP, JP and JJ!

The Aintree no-hopers’ revenge! Yes, the real McCoy at Aintree! There was just one reason why Don’t Push It suddenly stormed in from about 20-1 at the start of the day to 10-1 joint favourite; the McCoy factor. This felt like the day when punters decided it really must be the great one’s turn. “He’s cost us £10?million, it’s a black armband day for the betting industry,” wailed the man from William Hill. Don’t believe it; even the bookies were secretly cheering. When he paraded through the press room afterwards, there was a standing ovation for McCoy. This is a sight I have rarely witnessed for any sportsman in a quarter of a century covering major events. The delight for him was overwhelming and universal. He recognised it himself. A 35-year-old who’s ridden over 3,000 winners knew that just one in this mad lottery of an event would change his perception for ever with the public. If there was one fact we were supposed top know about AP, it was that he was like Jimmy White at the Crucible. Did he believe it would never happen? “No.

I’m the biggest dreamer in the world. Stupidly, I believe I’ll always win. It means everything to win the National. “Everyone in the street knows the grand National, knows how important it is, that it’s the world’s greatest race. You know, I’m supposed to be a good jockey. So if I can’t win the National, well that’s a bit of a negative on my cv, isn’t it?” In recent years, for all the extraordinary figures relating to this winning machine, the whispers have been that Ruby Walsh’s performances in the biggest races have arguably made him the superior of the pair, a safer pair of hands when the stakes are at their highest. Walsh, to his credit, has always said this is nonsense, that AP is the best. Yet there was an irony on Saturday that McCoy’s finest 10 minutes should come just an hour and a half after his great friend Walsh, a two-time winner of the event, should suffer a terrible fall when seemingly cruising to victory in the Aintree Hurdle.

Walsh was still travelling in his usually silky smooth style on Celestial Halo when his mount fell at the second last hurdle, being thrown to the ground and being caught on the shoulder by a following horse, Won In The Dark. He was immediately attended to by paramedics and taken to hospital with a suspected broken left arm. His National chances were over, the ride on Paul Nicholls’s favourite Big Fella Thanks being handed instead to Barry Geraghty, who brought him in fourth. But this time, the limelight was all McCoy’s. He could not keep the smile off his face. When Mick Fitzgerald won on Rough Quest, he described the feeling as better than sex. “Ah, but he’s got married since then,” laughed McCoy. There is a feeling that McCoy’s incredible sporting achievements – winning 14 straight jockeys’ championships represents one of the most remarkable landmarks in all sport – have been underplayed because he is a quiet achiever. Shamefully, in the year he recorded his 3,000th winner, he was not even in the 10 nominees for BBC Sports Personality of the Year. Did he think he would make the list this year now? “Sports Personality of the Year?

I don’t know what that is,” he said wryly. So get your votes in now. “My little girl Eve can be proud of me now when she grows up,” he smiled. As if she wasn’t going to be, anyway. By the time she grows up, the sheer force of his achievements will have made him one of the great sportsmen of all-time. Unarguably. BBC Sport - Horse Racing - Tony McCoy wins Grand National on Don't Push It Tony McCoy wins Grand National on Don't Push It Don't Push It wins the Grand National Tony McCoy ended his Grand National jinx in superb style as he claimed victory at the 15th attempt on board 10-1 joint favourite Don't Push It. Don't Push It jumped the last with Black Apalachi but pulled away down the straight to give trainer Jonjo O'Neill and owner JP McManus their first wins. Black Apalachi (14-1) was five lengths behind, ahead of State of Play (16-1). Joint favourite Big Fella Thanks, with Barry Geraghty replacing injured jockey Ruby Walsh, finished fourth.

McCoy, the 14-time champion jockey, has ridden more than 3,000 winners, but Grand National victory had remained frustratingly elusive, with three third-place finishes his best efforts before Saturday. McCoy thanks trainer The 35-year-old Northern Irishman, who first rode the National in 1995, was close to tears as he spoke to BBC Sport after crossing the finish line of the four-and-a-half-mile marathon. "I'm being a big wuss. It means everything to me to win the Grand National. "I've won lots of big races and I'm supposed to be a good jockey, but to not win the Grand National would be a bit of a negative on the CV." Trainer O'Neill, who never won the race as a jockey, also celebrated an emotional win. Walsh, twice a winner of the National, suffered a broken arm in a heavy fall on Celestial Halo in the Dick Francis Aintree Hurdle earlier on the card. He was replaced by Geraghty, with Richard Johnson taking over on Geraghty's original mount Tricky Trickster.

But Big Fella Thanks nonetheless went out as joint favourite along with Don't Push It, after a late flurry of bets on McCoy's mount. Grand National - closing stages (UK users only) And there was more drama at the start as King Johns Castle, ridden by Paul Carberry, refused to race, despite stewards holding the start to allow the horse to settle. As Conna Castle made the early running, McCoy bided his time on the first circuit. But he later revealed that during that first circuit he had an inkling that this could be his day. "I had a strange feeling early on that the horse was enjoying what he was doing," McCoy told BBC Radio 5 live on Sunday. "But you have to keep your concentration and the more the race went on, the more I got the buzz." And with four fences of the 30 to go, he surged to the front and eventually won by a decisive margin. Black Apalachi, trained in Ireland by Dessie Hughes, was left trailing in his wake. His jockey Denis O'Regan said: "He was a bit keen early on but once he settled into a lovely rhythm he was fantastic.

It's a pleasure to ride a horse like him round here." Paul Moloney's mount State of Play, went one better than his fourth position last time round for Welsh trainer Evan Williams. Moloney said: "It was a serious run from a serious horse who has been very good to me and he might win it next year." Hello Bud, ridden prominently throughout by 17-year-old Sam Twiston-Davies, was in contention at the second last but faded to finish fifth. Nina Carberry, attempting to become the first woman to win the race on Character Building, finished in seventh, behind the well-backed Snowy Morning. Last year's winner Mon Mome was going well when he fell at the 26th fence. Preists Leap was the last of 14 finishers, by which time celebrations in the Don't Push It camp were well under way. Grand National - how they fared McManus, a former joint-owner of Manchester United, paid tribute to racing manager Frank Berry, who found the horse in Listowel. "I don't think without Frank we would have had the horse," he said.

"Full marks to Jonjo and the team as he's been a difficult horse down the years to keep right and keep his mind right." McCoy waited until Thursday to choose Don't Push It ahead of Can't Buy Time, who unseated jockey Richie McLernon at the eighth fence. "My trainer put me on the right one if truth be known," he said. "I asked him to toss a coin and I think he tossed it a few times until he got Don't Push It. I couldn't have picked it, but Jonjo was very adamant and I didn't argue with him. "If you get enough goes at something and you keep going, once you're in there you've always got a chance. 606: DEBATE Grand National 2010: McCoy wins at Aintree | Racing | Sport | Daily Express RACING Grand National 2010: McCoy wins at Aintree TONY McCoy has won the John Smith’s Grand National as Don’t Push It provided the champion jockey with a famous win at Aintree.

00:00, Sat, Apr 10, 2010 GRAND NATIONAL 2010: Tony McCoy celebrates on Don't Push it after winning the Grand National [] Black Apalachi was prominent throughout but Tony McCoy was always stalking him on the second circuit. As they jumped the last together, McCoy galvanised his mount to take up the running before the Elbow and the relief the record-breaking rider showed immediately afterwards was immense. A tearful McCoy said: “I’m being a big wuss. It means everything to me to win the Grand National. “I’ve won lots of big races and I’m supposed to be a good jockey, but to not win the Grand National would be a bit of a negative on the CV. “I’m delighted for my mum and dad as they’ve been great for me throughout the years, and for my wife Chanelle and my daughter Eve, who is two and a half.

“Hopefully now she’ll be proud of me when she grows up.” An almighty gamble in the minutes before the four-and-a-half-mile marathon saw the Jonjo O’Neill-trained Don’t Push It sent off the 10-1 joint-favourite along with Big Fella Thanks, with the latter ridden by Barry Geraghty in the absence of the injured Ruby Walsh. Geraghty was another still going well approaching the second-last, along with 17-year-old Sam Twiston-Davies on Hello Bud. But Black Apalachi and Don’t Push It pulled clear and it was McCoy who took the plaudits as he won by five lengths. State Of Play went one better than last year to stay on for third, with Big Fella Thanks fourth and Hello Bud fifth.

Latest videos GRAND NATIONAL 2010: AP McCoy finally wins on Don't Push It ahead of Black Apalachi, State of Play and Big Fella Thanks | Daily Mail Online GRAND NATIONAL 2010: Tony McCoy finally wins on Don't Push It ahead of Black Apalachi, State of Play and Big Fella Thanks By Sportsmail Reporter Updated: 13:21 EST, 10 April 2010 comments At last: Tony McCoy celebrates on board Don't Push it after winning the Grand National at Aintree Tony McCoy finally won the John Smith's Grand National as Don't Push It - his 15th ride in the race - provided the champion jockey with a famous win at Aintree. Black Apalachi was prominent throughout but McCoy was always stalking him on the second circuit. As they jumped the last together, McCoy galvanised his mount to take up the running before the Elbow and the relief the record-breaking rider showed immediately afterwards was immense.

An almighty gamble in the minutes before the four-and-a-half-mile marathon saw the Jonjo O'Neill-trained Don't Push It sent off the 10-1 joint-favourite along with Big Fella Thanks, with the latter ridden by Barry Geraghty in the absence of the injured Ruby Walsh. Geraghty was another still going well approaching the second-last, along with 17-year-old Sam Twiston-Davies on Hello Bud. But Black Apalachi and Don't Push It pulled clear and it was McCoy who took the plaudits as he won by five lengths. State Of Play went one better than last year to stay on for third, with Big Fella Thanks fourth and Hello Bud fifth. Legendary owner-gambler JP McManus had been trying to win the Aintree spectacular for years but his ambition finally came true. Ride of his life: McCoy and Don't Push It lead home Black Apalachi Nina Carberry, attempting to become the first woman to win the race on Character Building, had a great spin round to finish seventh with Snowy Morning sixth to add to his good record in the race.

Last year's winner Mon Mome still appeared to be going well when he fell at the 26th fence. A tearful McCoy said: 'I'm being a big wuss. It means everything to me to win the Grand National. 'I've won lots of big races and I'm supposed to be a good jockey, but to not win the Grand National would be a bit of a negative on the CV. Unscathed: Don't Push it (left) jumps during the Grand National 'I'm delighted for my mum and dad as they've been great for me throughout the years, and for my wife Chanelle and my daughter Eve, who is two and a half. Hopefully now she'll be proud of me when she grows up.' Chanelle McCoy said: 'I'm speechless. For him to do this means the absolute world to him. I know he would have loved his parents to be here. Champion: McCoy celebrates after winning 'It is so emotional and for him to do it for Mr McManus and for Jonjo and Jacqui (O'Neill), it is a fantastic achievement. It's brilliant.' O'Neill said: 'It's fantastic and I thought it would never happen to me.

I'm delighted it's happened and I'm delighted for AP (McCoy) and JP and all the lads. 'Alan Berry does everything with this horse at home so well done to him. The horse lives out in a field with half a dozen sheep. I didn't believe it was going to happen until they passed the post as I thought something was going to happen, but it's marvellous. Things can't get much better than this.' McManus added: 'First of all I want to thank Frank Berry (racing manager) as he found the horse in Listowel and I don't think without Frank we would have had the horse. 'Full marks to Jonjo and the team as he's been a difficult horse down the years to keep right and keep his mind right.' Grand National 2010: Tony McCoy rides Don't Push It to victory in big race at Aintree - Telegraph Horse Racing Grand National 2010: Tony McCoy rides Don't Push It to victory in big race at Aintree Tony McCoy has finally won the Grand National as Don't Push It - his 15th ride in the race - provided the champion jockey with a famous victory at Aintree.

Champions: Tony McCoy is handed the Grand National winner's trophy by Peter Kay Photo: PA Image 1 of 3 Moment of triumph: McCoy turns to the gallery as Don't Push It crosses the line Photo: PA Leap of faith: runners and riders jump the water at Aintree Photo: PA By Telegraph staff and agencies 4:39PM BST 10 Apr 2010 Black Apalachi was prominent throughout but McCoy was always stalking him on the second circuit. As they jumped the last together, McCoy galvanised his mount to take up the running before the Elbow and the relief the record-breaking rider showed immediately afterwards was immense. An almighty gamble in the minutes before the four-and-a-half-mile marathon saw the Jonjo O'Neill-trained Don't Push It sent off the 10-1 joint-favourite along with Big Fella Thanks, with the latter ridden by Barry Geraghty in the absence of the injured Ruby Walsh. Geraghty was another still going well approaching the second-last, along with 17-year-old Sam Twiston-Davies on Hello Bud.

But Black Apalachi and Don't Push It pulled clear and it was McCoy who took the plaudits as he won by five lengths. Related Articles Grand National runners guide 09 Apr 2010 State Of Play went one better than last year to stay on for third, with Big Fella Thanks fourth and Hello Bud fifth. Legendary owner-gambler JP McManus had been trying to win the Aintree spectacular for years but his ambition finally came true. Nina Carberry, attempting to become the first woman to win the race on Character Building, had a great spin round to finish seventh with Snowy Morning sixth to add to his good record in the race. Last year's winner Mon Mome still appeared to be going well when he fell at the 26th fence. A tearful McCoy said: "I'm being a big wuss. It means everything to me to win the Grand National. "I've won lots of big races and I'm supposed to be a good jockey, but to not win the Grand National would be a bit of a negative on the CV.

"I'm delighted for my mum and dad as they've been great for me throughout the years, and for my wife Chanelle and my daughter Eve, who is two and a half. "Hopefully now she'll be proud of me when she grows up." McCoy continued: "My trainer put me on the right one if truth be known. I asked him to toss a coin and I think he tossed it a few times until he got Don't Push It. "I couldn't have picked it, but Jonjo was very adamant and I didn't argue with him. "If you get enough goes at something and you keep going, once you're in there you've always got a chance. "I'm delighted for JP (McManus) as he's the best supporter this game has ever had and ever will have, and I'm very privileged to ride a Grand National winner in his colours." Chanelle McCoy said: "I'm speechless. For him to do this means the absolute world to him. I know he would have loved his parents to be here. "It is so emotional and for him to do it for Mr McManus and for Jonjo and Jacqui (O'Neill), it is a fantastic achievement.

It's brilliant." O'Neill said: "It's fantastic and I thought it would never happen to me. "I'm delighted it's happened and I'm delighted for AP (McCoy) and JP and all the lads. "Alan Berry does everything with this horse at home so well done to him. The horse lives out in a field with half a dozen sheep. "I didn't believe it was going to happen until they passed the post as I thought something was going to happen, but it's marvellous. "Things can't get much better than this. McManus added: "First of all I want to thank Frank Berry (racing manager) as he found the horse in Listowel and I don't think without Frank we would have had the horse. "Full marks to Jonjo and the team as he's been a difficult horse down the years to keep right and keep his mind right." Dessie Hughes said of his gallant runner-up: "He couldn't have done any more and to be honest he had too much weight. "He ran his heart out. He made one mistake but he came back again." Owner Gerard Burke added: "It's almost as good as winning.

He was up there all the way and even if he never wins a National, we got him there and he was good enough for it." Paul Nicholls said of Big Fella Thanks: "I'm chuffed to bits with him, I just doubt whether Big Fella quite stays but there were no excuses and I'm delighted for AP as it is perfect for racing." Denis O'Regan said of Black Apalachi: "I had a tremendous ride, he jumped superbly. "He's a credit to Dessie Hughes and all his team back home because he was in fantastic condition, he jumped from fence to fence. "Fair play to AP, he beat me fair and square and the best horse won on the day. Fair play to him as he's achieved so much. "He was a lot more settled this year, it was a great run." Geraghty added of Tricky Trickster: "He jumped great and travelled well. I was with AP going to the second-last but I knew he had plenty of horse under him. "It's great for AP and JP they deserve it.

I was running out of petrol going to the second-last." Grand National glory at last for Tony McCoy on Don't Push It | Sport | The Guardian Grand National glory at last for Tony McCoy on Don't Push It • Tony McCoy wins Grand National at 15th attempt Saturday 10 April 2010 11.40 EDT First published on Saturday 10 April 2010 11.40 EDT Close This article is 6 years old "I'm a dreamer," Tony McCoy said after climbing off Don't Push it in the winner's enclosure that many thought he would never visit. "I'm always dreaming that I'll win every race I'm in." And this time at Aintree, his 15th attempt at this race, there was no rough awakening, no sudden jolt back to grey reality. This was the McCoy Grand National , his version of the Matthews Cup Final, and the most surprising thing about it was just how easily the hoodoo was laid to rest. In truth, it was buried with barely a struggle.

Twelve months ago, a great gang of horses were still in contention with three of the 30 fences left to jump, but this time around there were just four, led by Black Apalachi, with Don't Push It and Big Fella Thanks, the 10-1 joint-favourites, both going ominously well. Once McCoy played his hand going to the last, though, it was clear that only a bizarre mishap could stop him, and he had already suffered more than his full quota of those in previous years. He was five lengths ahead of Black Apalachi at the line, with State Of Play another 20 lengths back in third, and Big Fella Thanks, whose stamina deserted him from the last, only fourth. Very few horses ever threatened to get involved in the finish – only 14 completed the course. The early omens for the winning owner, JP McManus, whose own National record was a blank from 33 runners before this race, were not good either, as King John's Castle, who had been runner-up in the race two years before, planted himself at the start and refused to race.

But McCoy had been steered towards Don't Push It by his trainer, Jonjo O'Neill, whose own championship-winning career in the saddle ended without even a completion in the National, never mind a victory. And the jockey had long suspected that, though he is a quirky, moody animal, the unique challenge of Aintree might bring out the best in him. They had barely jumped Becher's Brook for the first time before McCoy started to realise that his instincts were correct. "To be honest, I thought after a mile that I had the race in the bag," he said, and while that might still have been the adrenaline talking, Don't Push It made life very easy for his partner. "At that point, I wouldn't have swapped him for anything, and I mean anything, not just horses," McCoy said. "He had just totally taken to it. He's always been a bit too intelligent at times, but today he used all his brains in the right way. "He's always been a horse with ability and that's what you need for this race. He's a little bit mentally unstable, which maybe is why he gets on well with me, but at times he's shown that he has class.

"I was aware how long it is from turning into the straight here [to the line] so I was worried about going too early, but I thought he ran pretty well over three miles and three furlongs at Cheltenham [in November] so in the back of my mind I thought he'd definitely stay." McCoy's victory also provided a rich reward to all those fans who had kept the faith through the travails of the previous 14 years. Don't Push It was a25-1 chance in the morning and deserved to be a relative outsider on the balance of his form, but a relentless public gamble throughout the day forced him to the top of the market by the time the tapes went up. The money was all for McCoy, rather than his horse, though it was a faith borne of respect, more than familiarity. Despite his unbroken run of championships stretching back to the mid-1990s, and more than 3,000 career winners, McCoy has never been high-profile. Even his young daughter, he said, "is more into Ruby Walsh than me". McCoy's image tends to be that of a stern, driven man.

He has the hollow cheeks of a jockey in thrall to the scales, and rarely seems to have time to enjoy one victory before moving on to the next. Today, though, the joy and relief were bursting out. "I've won a few other races nobody knows about," he said, "but everyone on the street knows about the Grand National. It's the people's race and, from a jockey's perspective, that's why it's important. "At least I can think that I've sort of done all right as a jockey now." It was obvious, too, what the win meant both to professionals and race-goers alike. Harry Findlay, who must have thought that his colours would go very close on Big Fella Thanks as they turned for home, was leading the applause as McCoy stepped up to receive his trophy, while Chanelle McCoy, the jockey's wife, said that "for a man that doesn't get too emotional, this is a hugely emotional end." What now for McCoy? He is 36 next month, which is old enough for a jump jockey, though some have ridden into their early 40s.

He is a father now, too, and it was noticeable that his voice only threatened to crack with the emotion when he said that "hopefully in years to come, this might have given her something to be proud of me about". Until today, McCoy's brilliant career was incomplete. Now, he knows that when he tries to execute the hardest trick of all for a jump jockey and retire at a moment of his choosing, he will do so with nothing left to prove. His friend and rival Ruby Walsh missed the National after fracturing his left arm in two places in a fall from Celestial Halo in an earlier race. His place on Big Fella Thanks was taken by Barry Geraghty. Walsh will also miss the ride on Denman, if he lines up for Saturday's Scottish National. GRAND NATIONAL 2010: Don't push 'jinxed' Tony McCoy | Daily Mail Online comments Champion jockey Tony McCoy admitted he has taken a calculated risk in picking Don’t Push It as the horse to end his hoodoo in the £925,000 John Smith’s Grand National.

The 14-time champion, with 14 National losing rides on his record, partners the 20-1 shot from four possible options owned by his boss, owner JP McManus. McCoy won the fiercely competitive Melling Chase on Friday when his attacking ride on Jonjo O’Neill’s 8-1 shot Albertas Run saw off Forpadydeplasterer after another potential threat, Kalahari King, fell at the second. Don't push me: Tony McCoy rode Ringaroses to victory on Friday, but his Aintree jinx of failing to produce a winner in the Grand National still haunts him He later completed a double for himself and O’Neill on Ringaroses but said his National hopes hinged on his mount choosing to put his best foot forward. McCoy said: ‘It has not been an easy choice. King Johns Castle was second two years ago but has not been in the same sort of form. ‘Arbor Supreme probably has the best form of the four but I’m just not sure that he is the ideal horse for the race. It’s just a gut feeling.

'If I’d wanted a nice safe ride round, I’d probably have gone for Can’t Buy Time, but I’ve chosen Don’t Push it because he has a little more class. Unfortunately, he never runs two races the same. I just hope that he will produce his best.’ When 100-1 shot Mon Mome sprinted clear to win last season, he restored the notion that the race is an unpredictable puzzle. Successful attempts to attract better quality horses have worked with a narrower spread of weights and few runners that can be ruled out, unlike the past when it was tough to carry more than 11st and win or make the frame. This was shown last year when the first four home all carried 11st or more. The changes have largely been motivated on welfare grounds. Weeding out poor entries reduces the risk element of tackling the 30 formidable fences, something particularly important. After two horses — Prudent Honour and Plaisir D’Estruval — were killed in the Topham Chase and Schindlers Hunt fell fatally in the Melling Chase on Friday, track officials were planning to selectively water as conditions threatened to become too quick.

The surface should hopefully ensure plenty complete as they did 12 months ago. Then, almost 30 of the 40 starters survived the first circuit with half of them still in contention at the penultimate fence. The first six to cross the line all run again. Such democratisation of the Grand National field enlivens the race with a field packed with the great potential stories. Top of that list is Nina Carberry, 27, as she attempts to become the first female jockey to win on Character Building, a horse bought this week by the same owners who purchased Party Politics days before his 1992 win. Down and out: Jason Maguire and Khachaturian take a tumble Then there is 17-year-old Sam Twiston-Davies on Hello Bud trying to become the youngest winning rider since Bruce Hobbs was successful on Battleship in 1938. In the fairytale stakes, they are pipped by Dream Alliance, the Welsh National winner bred and raised on an allotment among the slag heaps of South Wales by his enthusiastic owners.

Girl power: Nina Carberry is bidding to become the National's first female winner Unfortunately, Paddy Flood broke his collar bone in Schindlers Hunt’s fall and has been replaced by Roger Loughran on 22-1 shot Vic Venturi.

Question: What was Tony McCoy's winning mount in the 2010 Grand National?
Answer: Don't Push It