Grand National 2010: Don't Push It is lucky 15 for Tony McCoy at Aintree - Telegraph Horse Racing Grand National 2010: Don't Push It is lucky 15 for Tony McCoy at Aintree AP McCoy, the 14-times champion jockey, finally won the John Smith's Grand National at his 15th attempt on Saturday when Don't Push It, trained by Jonjo O'Neill and owned by legendary gambler JP McManus, put in a faultless round to come home five lengths clear of Black Apalachi. Mine's a pint: Tony McCoy celebrates after winning the John Smith's Grand National at Aintree Photo: GETTY IMAGES By Marcus Armytage 8:57PM BST 10 Apr 2010 No winner of a modern Grand National has ever had quite the reception that the popular McCoy received from a packed grandstand as he and the 10-year-old Don’t Push It, who spends most of his life in a field with some Jacob sheep for company, paraded down in front of the packed grandstands afterwards.

Champions: Tony McCoy is handed the Grand National winner's trophy by Peter Kay The horse was backed into 10-1 joint-favouritism on the day purely on the grounds that McCoy, 35 and in the twilight of his extraordinary career which has yielded over 3,200 winners, is the one jockey that once-a-year punters have heard of and not because McManus had invested large amounts. “I just had a few quid on Big Fella Thanks,” said McManus afterwards, “and I’m happy I was wrong.” If winning a National can ever be plain sailing it was on this occasion but McCoy has endured such bad luck in previous efforts – he has twice been carried out by loose horses when in with a winning chance – he had reached the stage of accepting that he would never win it and had been low-key about his chances beforehand. ‘Champion jockey doesn’t win Grand National again’ had become such an old story that McCoy had almost slipped into this year’s race unnoticed under the radar. It was a different story in the race, however. “After a mile I turned to Davy Russell and wanted to tell him that I thought I’d win at that stage,” he said.

“I wouldn’t have swapped him for anything.” An end-to-end gallop, set on the first circuit by Conna Castle, ensured that by the time they field reached Valentine’s (fence 25) on the second circuit there were only four horses in with a chance of winning, Don’t Push It, Big Fella Thanks, the other joint-favourite, Hello Bud, ridden by schoolboy Sam Twiston-Davies – his essay ‘what I did in the holidays’ should make good reading – and the bold-jumping Black Apalachi. Related Articles Chips are on Black Apalachi 09 Apr 2010 Between the last two fences Hello Bud began to tire and the trip began to take its toll on Big Fella Thanks. In front, however, McCoy’s mount was travelling much sweeter than Black Apalachi and though the game runner-up was still only a length down at the elbow, it was Don’t Push It who galloped home the stronger under the Champion’s driving. “He’s always had a few mental problems which makes two of us,” said McCoy, one of the most driven sportsmen in the world. “That’s probably why we get on so well.

I had a choice of two horses today and the trainer put me on the right one, he steered me towards Don’t Push It. But I’m delighted for JP McManus because he is the best supporter this game has ever had and ever will have. I am very, very privileged that I rode a Grand National winner in these colours.” He added: “I had to keep consoling myself that Peter Scudamore and John Francome were great champions who never won the race and that I was, at least, in good company.” O’Neill, was likewise a popular champion jockey who never won the race as a rider. In fact he never completed the course in seven attempts. “I was walking round with my boys today and when we got to the Canal Turn I said ‘this is where we stop, I don’t know what goes on beyond this point.’ We have had a bit of bad luck in the past, particularly with Clan Royal, and I thought it would never happen to me.” His association with McManus, who owns the yard where he trains near Stow-on-the-Wold, began five decades ago when he rode Jack of Trumps for him.

“Really Alan Berry [the stable amateur] does everything with Don’t Push It. He lives in a field - but don’t tell JP that because I charge him full training fees, and Alan takes him out on his own most days. He’s had plenty of physical problems but when the right horse turns up he’s good.” He was found as a three-year-old store horse in a field where he was bred by McManus’s racing manager, Frank Berry. “I thought his time had passed him by,” said Berry. “He’s always been a nearly horse.” Behind the first two State Of Play, last year’s fourth stayed on to go one better this time, with Big Fella Thanks fourth. Hello Bud was fifth. Nina Carberry, the only female rider, was seventh of the 14 finishers which also included previous winner Comply Or Die in 12th. Can’t Buy Time, McCoy’s other possible ride, unseated at the eighth.

Mon Mome, last year’s winner, fell at the 26th soon after Dream Alliance, the fairytale horse bred on a Welsh allotment, had pulled up at the 24th while King Johns Castle, another of McManus’s quartet of runners, refused to start. All 40 horses returned unscathed while Wayne Hutchinson, the only faller at the first on Eric’s Charm, was the only human casualty, going home for an X-ray on his hand. 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. Aintree Grand National Winner Don't Push It Retires Aintree Grand National Winner Retires Aintree Grand National winner Don’t Push It, the horse that finally gave champion jockey Tony McCoy his first win in the race at his fifteenth attempt, has been retired after failing to please his trainer on the gallops. While Don't Push It's trainer Jonjo O’Neill felt that the horse was missing his old sparkle and it was better to retire him in good health. Aintree Grand National Winner Unlike the winner of the Ulster Grand National , Pineau De Re, he will spend his retirement at Martinstown Stud in County Limerick belonging to his owner JP McManus. He won eight races and £750,000 in prize money during his career and also brought a first National victory to both owner and trainer. Don’t Push It was always going to make a chaser and was quickly sent over the bigger obstacles after winning two of his first three races over hurdles. In only his second race over fences he came up against none other than Denman and got within ¾ length of the future Gold Cup winner.

His Cheltenham target in 2007 was the Arkle Trophy but he fell 2 out when threatening the leaders. A disrupted season followed and in 2008 he had his first visit to Aintree to contest a Handicap Hurdle, eventually finishing well down the field. His trainer kept him over hurdles in an effort to rebuild his confidence after a couple of disappointing efforts over fences and in January 2009 he chased home Big Bucks. He returned to the larger obstacles at Aintree in April for the John Smith’s Handicap Chase and came home the first of only five to finish in rain-softened ground. Although he was unable to show the same level of form in his subsequent races, the seed had been planted to return for the 2010 renewal of the Aintree Grand National. His prep race for Aintree was the Pertemps Hurdle Final and it did not go to plan as he struggled after an early mistake and was pulled up. His Aintree chance was not immediately obvious until McCoy chose him ahead of stablemate Can’t Buy Time, sparking a nation wide gamble as the horse’s odds tumbled from 25-1 to 10-1 joint-favourite.

There had been much speculation about McCoy’s National mount and his great desire to finally win the world’s greatest steeplechase. The race could hardly have gone any better for McCoy as he joined the front-running Bold Apalachi two out before racing clear after the last. In 2011 O’Neill plotted a similar path to Aintree, again running the horse over hurdles at Cheltenham prior to the National. He put in a fine performance but his burden of 11st 10lb eventually proved too much and he had to settle for an honourable third place behind Ballabriggs. The plan had been to train him for another tilt at the Grand National this year but his seasonal appearance over hurdles at Cheltenham in November proved to be his last race. 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 Winners | Results | History | Aintree Get a FREE Timeform Race Pass for the 2016 Crabbie's Grand National Golden Miller - 1934 The front page of the Sporting Life dubbed Golden Miller “The Finest Chaser of the Century” after he won the 1934 Grand National, breaking the course record in front of an estimated 250,000-strong Aintree crowd. Although that record no longer stands – though it did take thirty-nine years for Red Rum to break it – two of Golden Miller’s achievements are still yet to be equalled or bettered. When he added the Grand National to the Cheltenham Gold Cup in 1934, Golden Miller became the first – and only – horse to do the double in the same season. Though he won a record five Cheltenham Gold Cups during his career (the other record that he still holds) this was the only National Golden Miller ever completed, unseating in 1933 and 1935 and refusing in 1936 and 1937.

Foinavon - 1967 Bookmakers enjoyed a lucrative 1935 Grand National when Golden Miller controversially unseated rider Gerry Wilson at the eleventh fence after being sent off at 2/1, which remains to this day the shortest price a horse has ever been sent off in the race. The bookies also had a profitable Grand National in 1967, when due to a freak occurrence at the twenty-third fence, 100/1-shot Foinavon was able to run out a fifteen-length winner from favourite Honey End. The scenes at the twenty-third fence were more reminiscent of a battlefield than a horse race, when the antics of loose horse Popham Down caused a huge pile-up at the head of affairs. Foinavon, who was amongst the stragglers at the time and therefore avoided the majority of the chaos, was able to pick his way through and was the only horse to take the fence at the first attempt, giving him a big lead which he maintained to the line. The twenty-third fence in the Grand National was named after Foinavon in 1984.

Red Rum - 1977 Foinavon’s victory was memorable for the way it happened, but he was widely regarded as an underachiever, and his then-jockey Pat Taaffe was quoted saying: “I don’t think I ever met a horse with less ambition”. The complete opposite can surely be said of Red Rum, whose record in the Grand National is beyond compare, having performed brilliantly in five consecutive renewals from 1973 to 1977, winning three times and finishing second twice. His final victory in 1977, where he beat Churchtown Boy into second by some twenty-five lengths under top weight (remains the last horse to defy top weight) in order to regain his crown was surely one of the most memorable Grand Nationals ever, not least because he posted a higher Timeform Rating than that season’s Cheltenham Gold Cup winner.

Party Politics - 1992 Party Politics’ win in the 1992 Grand National was all the more memorable because of the timing of the race, which took place just five days before the 1992 General Election that eventually saw John Major remain as Prime Minister, despite his main rival Neil Kinnock seemingly being ahead in the opinion polls throughout the run-up to polling day. Party Politics – a giant gelding who was reputed to be the tallest horse in training at the time – probably owed his SP of 14/1 more to his topical name than his previous form, though there seemed to be little doubt about the result once he took up the running four out. A horse of Party Politics’ demeanour could have been expected to dominate the National for years to come, but he was unfortunately pulled up (in response to flagmen) in the 1993 void National, missed the 1994 renewal through injury, finished a gallant second in 1995, and fell – for only the second time in his career – in the 1996 running.

Party Politics may well have enjoyed further success if he had run in the 1997 Grand National, the year of the next General Election. Don’t Push It - 2010 The 2010 National will always be remembered as AP McCoy’s National, the only time he won the race despite riding over four thousand other winners and being crowned champion jockey on twenty successive occasions. Winning the National was the achievement that registered most with the general public, and lead to McCoy winning the BBC Sports Personality of The Year, becoming racing’s only winner of the main award in its long history.

McCoy was a fantastic servant to racing and few are more deserving of a win the world’s highest-profile horse race, but the performance of his companion in the 2010 Grand National, Don’t Push It, is sometimes underplayed, which is a shame considering he put up one of the best Grand National-winning performances in post-WWII history, though his performance (162 on Timeform-ratings) has since been bettered by both Neptune Collonges in 2012 (164) and Many Clouds in 2015 (166) as the quality of the race continues to rise. Grand National 2010 - as it happened | Chris Cook and James Dart | Sport | theguardian.com Grand National Grand National 2010 - as it happened Tony McCoy finally won the National as Don't Push It - his 15th ride in the race - provided the champ with a famous win Saturday 10 April 2010 11.24 BST Tony McCoy celebrates on Don't Push It. Photograph: David Davies/PA Preamble Good morning and welcome to our coverage from Grand National day.

It's a bright, sunny day at Aintree , where today's card kicks off at 1.45pm, with four races before the showpiece, due off at 4.15pm . In the meantime, why not read how Donald McCain is hoping to follow in his father Ginger's footsteps and train a winner in the National, today in the form of Cloudy Lane . Click here for all the day's racecards, form, stats and results. And click here for today's latest odds and market movers. 11.45am Is it a Snowy day? The most tipped horse in the national newspapers today is Snowy Morning, who has three votes, while Niche Market, King Johns Castle and, weirdly, Ballyfitz have two each. There are other tips for Big Fella Thanks, Eric's Charm, Comply Or Die, Backstage and Black Apalachi. So that's a quarter of the field that the tipsters have covered between them. What are the odds that they've missed the winner? 11.50am Money for the outsiders In common with the newspaper tipsters, it seems that the betting public is not especially interested by the Grand National favourite, Big Fella Thanks.

The PR people for the major bookmakers are reporting that the interesting big bets this morning have been for other horses. Kate Miller of William Hill says they've taken a £5,000 bet to win on State Of Play, a 16-1 shot, while David Williams of Ladbrokes says they've had two bets of £2,000 on Beat The Boys at 100-1 and have laid a total of £20,000 on Dream Alliance at 40-1. 11.59am Backstage the mover on Betfair Disturbingly for those of us who think the ground has come right for the Irish raider Backstage, the eight-year-old drifted out to 39-1 on Betfair last night, suggesting that perhaps all was not well with him. Happily he has now been supported into 29-1, so hopefully there is nothing to worry about. Last year's winner, Mon Mome, is a slight drifter now, out to 16-1 from an opening 14-1.

12.04pm A Dream Alliance joke Dream Alliance, as we should all know by now , is the fairytale waiting to happen in this year's National. The chestnut was foaled and raised on a tiny allotment on a slagheap in Wales, just north of the M4. So how will he jump those big Aintree fences? Caerphilly! 12.13pm The going gets faster The going on the Grand National course is now good, with good to soft places, meaning there is as little moisture in the ground as there ever is at Aintree. It is a dramatic change from what was expected 10 days ago, when parts of the course were heavy and a soft-ground race was widely anticipated. Among the horses who should be suited by decent ground are Backstage, Beat The Boys, Mon Mome, Cloudy Lane, State Of Play, Maljimar and Ollie Magern. Those who would probably prefer softer going include Eric's Charm, Preists Leap, Vic Venturi and Dream Alliance.

12.21pm McCoy picks up spare ride Those who follow the champion jockey might like to note that Tony McCoy has picked up a spare ride in the race before the National, the 3.25pm, in which he will ride Rare Bob. He replaces Paddy Flood, who broke his collar bone in a fall yesterday. 12.24pm Two more good-ground horses Will Hayler, our tipster at the track, nominates My Will and Niche Market as two other horses who will be well suited by the good-ish ground on the National course today. Will has, of course, tipped Niche Market in this morning's Guardian. 12.28pm Non-runners As yet, there are no non-runners in the Grand National, but some horses have been pulled out of the other races at Aintree today. In the second race at 2.15, French Opera and Green Belt Elite are out. Souffler will not line up for the third race at 2.50pm, while Offshore Account is a non-runner in the 3.25pm. Arctic Wings has been taken out of the 5pm race.

12.30pm Big Fella friendless The Grand National favourite, Big Fella Thanks, has been so poorly backed that several firms are now offering bigger odds than they had first thing this morning. He is a top price of 11-1 now, a point bigger than he was on the high street when the betting shops opened. His trainer, Paul Nicholls, has dominated jump racing for several years but has failed to win the National so far, despite fielding 44 runners since 1992. He also has Tricky Trickster, My Will and Nozic running for him today. 12.36pm Fingers crossed that it isn't yours . . . Over on the chatroom at Betfair, a tasteful discussion is taking place as to which horse will be the first to fall in today's National. Ballyfitz is the only horse that has so far been nominated more than once. It is true to say that he has not always been the cleanest of jumpers and our best wishes go with him and his jockey, David England. 12.57pm A grey day?

In the Grand National's history, which goes back more than 170 years, there have only ever been two grey-coloured winners (not counting the jockeys). The most recent grey was Nicolaus Silver in 1961. But there are four greys running today who, between them, must have a good chance of rewarding those who like to back horses of that colour. They are Beat The Boys, Character Building, King Johns Castle and Piraya. 1.21pm McCoy playing it cool The retired jockey Mick Fitzgerald is on the BBC just now, teasing Tony McCoy about the fact that he has never won the National and saying he seems very relaxed for someone with such a monkey on his back. "I've got past the stage of being not relaxed about it," McCoy replied, with what seemed an unforced smile. He said his ambition was always to be champion jockey and his ability to reach that ambition each season, he feels, is something he is able to control. "Whereas the National is something I have no control over." 1.25pm Aintree's first race is up in 15 minutes . . .

The hot favourite for the novice hurdle that opens today's card is Peddlers Cross at 5-4. He is trained by Donald McCain, son of Ginger, who trained Red Rum to win three Grand Nationals back in the 70s. 1.50pm Peddlers Cross wins the opener That's got favourite-backers off to a good start on Grand National day. Peddlers Cross (5-4), a winner at the Cheltenham Festival last month, has followed up at Aintree and is a really classy-looking horse. He thrived on this decent ground and settled in nicely behind a strong pace set by Bygones Of Brid, who faded. Duke Of Lucca (7-1) was second. Paul Nicholls' Najaf (4-1), who had been second in a longer race at Cheltenham, was outpaced at the top of the straight but ran on strongly in the last quarter-mile to be third. He needs three miles to be seen at his best. The winning trainer and jockey, Donald McCain and Jason Maguire, will team up later with Cloudy Lane in the Grand National. 2.07pm Tensions rising in the heat . . .

John Smith's, sponsors of the Grand National, have provided paddock sheets bearing their logo to be worn by every runner as it enters the paddock before the big race this afternoon. The rules state that each horse must wear the sheet. Ordinarily at this time of year, trainers would wish to ensure that their horses have paddock sheets on until the jockey gets on board. But it's unseasonably hot in Liverpool today and a couple of trainers are making enquiries as to whether they can be allowed to wriggle out of the rule, because they don't want their horses getting warm and sweating up under those sheets before the National. 2.19pm Tataniano wins the novice chase A very impressive success by Tataniano (100-3), who bounded off this fast ground. The horse pulled his way to the front down the back straight, probably before his jockey, Ruby Walsh, really wanted to get there, and the pair had the race in safe keeping some way from home. Osana, the 5-2 favourite, ran on to be second, with Archie Boy (12-1) third.

Graham Lee took a heavy fall late in the race but appears to be OK and should be able to ride The Package in the National. 2.26pm Boost for Big Fella Tataniano, of course, represents the same trainer/jockey combination (Paul Nicholls and Ruby Walsh) as Big Fella Thanks, the National favourite. The BBC team are reporting support for Big Fella Thanks ("down to 8-1 in places" they cry), though he still remains 11-1 in other places. 2.44pm Greg Wood reports on Tataniano's win Tataniano took the Grade One Maghull Novice Chase in outstanding style and may now be put away to preserve him for next season. "Obviously we were all very impressed with that," Andy Stewart, his owner, said. "Ruby [Walsh, the jockey] said we should look after him and we'll come back next year in all the top two-mile races. "He's got to have good ground. We shouldn't have run him at Newbury [on soft ground in January] when he got turned over at 2-5, but it's beautiful, safe jumping ground today and he beat some very good horses.

"We could maybe go to Punchestown, but we think he could go to the top and we need to look after him. The Champion Chase would be a big mountain to climb, he's got a stone and a half to find to be good enough, but the way he jumps means that the Tingle Creek [at Sandown in December] could be ideal for him. "He has the ability to deal with the rat-a-tat-tat of the Railway fences, and the Tingle Creek is a lovely race." Earlier, the McCain family kicked off what is always the biggest day of their year with the victory of Peddlers Cross in the Mersey Novice Hurdle. The novice is now unbeaten in six starts, including successes at both the Cheltenham and Aintree Festivals. "He'd recovered within half an hour of his Cheltenham run," Donald McCain said. "We were almost hoping for a sign that would stop us coming here because you see so many Cheltenham winners not doing it here. "He's a hell of a good horse and he's improving and learning to race all the time. He's jumped better again today and he's a serious tool. I've never had one like him.

"I was looking forward to Cheltenham but I came here today thinking I was on a hiding to nothing because you just don't want to make a mess of horses like this. "I don't know [about going chasing next season]. His first run is likely to be over hudles just to get the fizz out of him and after that we'll see." 2.56pm Khyber Kim wins Aintree Hurdle, Ruby takes nasty fall Great drama in the Aintree Hurdle, in which the favourite, Zaynar, was just about the first beaten. Khyber Kim ran on well to win impressively, though he may have had trouble from Celestial Halo, who was cruising until taking a crashing fall at the second-last. Celestial Halo's jockey, Ruby Walsh, is being treated on the track and we must hope he is not injured. 3pm Odds on that race Khyber Kim won at 7-2, Muirhead was second at 10-1, Zaynar ran on when it was too late to snatch third at 11-8, just ahead of Won In The Dark and Petit Robin.

3.08pm Ruby being stretchered off the course This does not look good. Ruby Walsh has just been stretchered off the racecourse with his arm in a sling. He will not ride in the next race, the 3.25pm, in which Nick Scholfield will take his place on Tatenen. It also looks very much as though the National favourite, Big Fella Thanks, is in need of another jockey. Any volunteers? 3.13pm Walsh has a suspected broken arm Ruby Walsh is out of the Grand National and, indeed, will not be riding for some time. He has a suspected broken arm, following his fall in the Aintree Hurdle and is on his way to hospital. 3.14pm Richard Johnson rides in the National! The unfortunate Walsh may be replaced by Richard Johnson, who would certainly be the most experienced jockey at Aintree who did not already have a National ride. He is the only jump jockey, apart from Tony McCoy, to have ridden more than 2,000 winners. Paul Nicholls' team are discussing whether Johnson or Barry Geraghty will be on Big Fella Thanks. The other one will ride Tricky Trickster.

3.18pm Big Fella on the slide Newly out to 11.5-1 on Betfair. 3.18pm Geraghty on Big Fella Thanks! Paul Nicholls has decided that Barry Geraghty will be switched onto Big Fella Thanks from Tricky Trickster in the Grand National. Richard Johnson has been called up to partner Tricky Trickster. 3.27pm No reason to worry about the new jockey, Big Fella fans Barry Geraghty rode Big Fella Thanks on his most recent run, when he won a valuable race at Newbury. Richard Johnson has never ridden Tricky Trickster before. 3.31pm Johnson warms up with a winner Richard Johnson, newly called up to Grand National duty, has just won the preceding race on From Dawn To Dusk (12-1), who finished strongly to power away from Dom D'Orgeval (8-1). The runner-up got a dream run and looked the most likely winner for most of the home straight but got tired before the winner.

3.34pm The other places for that race Rare Bob (8-1) held on to third place ahead of Wogan, the 5-1 favourite. 3.45pm: OK, James here. You'll be with my incapable hands for the next hour and a bit. My 1-2-3-4? 1) Sad Ken Backstage; 2) Cerium; 3) Mon Mome; 4) Eric's Charm. There's four to avoid, for starters. And as it's National time, how about some lump-in-the-throat-inducing sounds from Carl Davis ? 3.48pm: Latest betting : Big Fella Thanks 9-1; Snowy Morning 12-1; The Package 12-1; Black Apalachi 14-1; State Of Play 14-1; Arbor Supreme 16-1; Mon Mome 16-1. News from the course: Flintoff has been backed as short as 40-1 in from 80s after the horse, part-owned by the former England cricketer, was tipped up by that famous tipster ... Peter Kay on BBC1.

3.52pm: The parade ring is filling up with the contenders for this year's race. Richard Dunwoody points to Flintoff (the horse) and declares, "he looks pretty switched off - a bit like his owner". 3.55pm: My Will is the paddock pick on the BBC and has been backed down as short as 29-1 on Betfair, where you can still get 11.5-1 on the favourite Big Fella Thanks. 3.57pm: Click-clack, click-clack, click-clack: here come the jockeys, led by last year's winner Liam Treadwell, who goes on Nozic today ... 3.59pm: After lining up for the customary jockey photograph - how do they choose who goes in the front row and the back? - the riders head off to meet their connections. Dream Alliance has been halved in price to 20s with the regular layers, while Beat The Boys is now 33-1 (75-1 on Betfair), having been 200s last night.

4pm: "His father gifted it [to me] as a wedding present," explains Andrew Flintoff of the horse in his name. "It can't lose," he adds with a smile. 4.04pm: Claire Balding may be a decent anchor, especially when milling around the owners, connections and riders involved in the parade ring. But she's no Martin Brundle , that's for sure. 4.07pm: Seven of the last 10 winning jockeys have worn green. This bodes well for Mon Mome, obviously, Black Apalachi, Cerium, Irish Raptor and the JP McManus pair Can't Buy Time and King Johns Castle. And Cloudy Lane. 4.09pm: The Aintree grandstands are being treated to the pre-race ride-along. It's still a beautiful afternoon in the north-west, with a little more cloud cover, but it's a gorgeous day for the Grand National. 4.11pm: Don't Push It is now joint favourite with Big Fella Thanks at 10-1 - Comply Or Die is 12-1. Dream Alliance is now in to 18s.

Hello Bud has also been slashed to 22s from 40-1. Nozic is now half the 100-1 he was a little earlier. 4.12pm: Tony McCoy rides the new joint-favourite. He's sweating at the start (the horse not AP), but Kinane insists it's nothing to be worried about. 4.14pm: Mon Mome is reported to now be "a bit worked up", and The Package also looks "a little too warm". 4.15pm: The first glimpse of the race starter as the field begin to circle around ... 4.16pm: And we're off ... OR ARE WE? 4.17pm: False start. A host of horses were out the back of the field and King Johns Castle doesn't even have his jockey on board ... 4.18pm: Paul Carberry still isn't in the saddle of King Johns Castle, which is forcing a longer delay to the restart ... AND THEY'RE OFF ... Carberry gets in the saddle but King Johns Castle isn't having any of it and forlornly watches the field speed into the distance ... Eric's Charm goes down at the first ...

Pablo Du Charmil down at the second ... My Will down at the fourth ... Black Apalachi leads ... Made In Taipan falls ... Snowy Morning and Comply Or Die both well placed ... Conna Castle clears the Canal Turn well in the front ... Can't Buy Time went down at the Canal Turn, but it's Conna Castle and Black Apalachi leading the field ... across the Melling Road for the second time on the first lap and it's Conna Castle four lengths clear of Black Apalachi and then Sam Twiston-Davies on Hello Bud ... coming towards the end of the first lap, it's still Conna Castle and Black Apalachi - Irish Raptor falls ... the leading pair are still a good half a dozen lengths clear ... 30 horses make the end of the first lap ... Flintoff is last ... Big Fella Thanks is fourth behind the aforementioned top three ... Madison Du Berlais and The Package both unseat their riders ... Backstage falls ... over Becher's on the second lap, a big mistake from Conna Castle and Black Apalachi leads - Ballyfitz goes down ...

at the Canal Turn for a second time, Don't Push It moves up to fourth with AP on board ... Black Apalachi leads, with Hello Bud, Big Fella Thanks and Don't Push It. Dream Alliance is out, as is Mon Mome ... a mistake from Black Apalachi as Don't Push It moves menacingly into third ... one of four now, surely: Black Apalachi leads round the final turn, with Hello Bud second, Don't Push It and Big Fella Thanks ... it's Don't Push It v Black Apalachi now at the elbow ... AP McCOY WINS ONE ON DON'T PUSH IT 1) Don't Push It 10-1jf, trained by Jonjo O'Neill 2) Black Apalachi 14-1 3) State Of Play 16-1 4) Big Fella Thanks 10-1jf Hello Bud finishes fifth, Snowy Morning in sixth, Nina Carberry and Character Building seventh. McCoy is interviewed and is doing all he can not to burst into tears, declaring that "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." He adds: "If you get enough goes at something and you get yourself in there, you always have a chance of winning." Crikey, I see why the BBC have about 189 commentators to deal with that race. I'm shattered. Grand National: O'Neill salutes retiring Don't Push It : News : Horse Racing Grand National winner Don't Push It has been retired. "He gave his all. He gave me the greatest day of my racing life..." Jonjo O'Neill branded Don't Push It "an unbelievable horse" after confirming the retirement of the 2010 Grand National winner...

The 12-year-old gelding, rated 162 over fences by Timeform, famously provided jockey Tony McCoy with his first National success at the 15th attempt, but has signed off from racing after failing to fire on the gallops at his home at Jackdaws Castle, Cheltenham. O'Neill said: "He's in great form, and he's doing everything grand at home, but he's just not showing us the same old sparkle. "He's 12 now and we are doing the right thing in retiring him." Don't Push It returned to Aintree last April and turned in another honourable display when finishing third behind Ballabriggs. He will spend his retirement at owner JP McManus' Martinstown Stud in County Limerick, having won eight races in a 29-race career which yielded over £750,000 in prize-money. O'Neill added: "The whole yard, and especially Tony and JP, owe him everything. "He was also mine and JP's first National winner and obviously means the world to both of us.

"He ran a blinder when he won in 2010, and he also ran a blinder last year when he finished third. "We thought we had him right again this year after he ran so well over hurdles at Cheltenham, but he's now telling us that enough is enough. "He's been an unbelievable horse and I'm sure he will be well looked after at JP's - he will have a great retirement. "He's a smashing horse and will never be forgotten." McCoy, currently sidelined with a rib injury, added on At The Races: "The last thing we wanted was for something to happen to him, so the decision was pretty easy to make. "Jonjo and JP were obviously very keen to make sure he retired in one piece. "He's emotionally too valuable for something to have happened to him. "He gave his all. He gave me the greatest day of my racing life - I always wanted to win the Grand National . "I will always be indebted to Don't Push It." Currently heading the antepost market for the 2012 renewal of the Grand National is Junior, who can be backed at [18.0].

Read More Horse Racing BBC Sport - Jockey Tony McCoy wins Sports Personality of the Year Jockey Tony McCoy wins Sports Personality of the Year Advertisement Jockey AP McCoy wins BBC Sports Personality of the Year Grand National winner Tony McCoy has been voted the 2010 BBC Sports Personality of the Year. The 36-year-old has been the champion jump jockey 15 times and becomes the first rider to win the BBC award after claiming 41.98% of the vote. "To win this award is surreal," said McCoy, who won the Grand National in April at the 15th attempt. Darts player Phil Taylor came second, while heptathlete Jessica Ennis finished in third. Northern Irishman McCoy, who has sustained numerous injuries during his stellar career, won the Grand National at Aintree for the first time in 2010 on Don't Push It. This is an unbelievable feeling to win this award Jockey Tony McCoy He has dominated his sport since he first became champion jockey in 1996, riding more than 3,000 winners, and in 2002 he beat Sir Gordon Richards' all-time record of 269 winners in a season.

"He's dominated racing like Tiger Woods has dominated golf and Roger Federer dominated tennis," said fellow jockey Ruby Walsh. McCoy has won almost every big race in the National Hunt calendar, including the Cheltenham Gold Cup, Champion Hurdle and King George VI Chase. The Sports Personality award was voted for by the public, who cast just under 700,000 votes. McCoy received 293,152, while nearest rival Taylor polled 72,095. "This is an unbelievable feeling standing here in front of all these amazing people," added McCoy as he accepted his award. "It's not something that anyone would be silly enough to dream about, even me. "My daughter, Eve, who is three, was shouting at me when she knew I was going to be on television this evening. "I want to keep going now. I want to be a champion jockey and I want to be at the top of my sport.

I don't know how long I will go on - time is the enemy of any sportsperson." Taylor, nicknamed The Power, has won the world darts title 15 times, including 2010, and looked thrilled when it was announced that he had been voted in second place, claiming 10.33% of the vote. Sports Personality 2010 - Phil Taylor The 50-year-old from Stoke-on-Trent collected six major titles in 2010 and defeated unseeded Australian Simon Whitlock 7-3 in the World Championship final. "It means the world to me," said Taylor. "For darts as well, it's fantastic and I can't be any happier than I am now after all the years of dedication I've put in. "It's a shock that sports people actually know who you are. David Beckham came up and said 'How are you, how are the kids? I heard you had a little grandson this week'." Ennis chose not to compete at the Commonwealth Games in India in October but earlier in the year won gold at the European Championships in Barcelona.

The 24-year-old, who was third at the 2009 Sports Personality of the Year, received 9.02% of the vote at this year's awards. "It's such an honour and I hope one day I can get the big one," said Ennis. "I feel I have my biggest challenges ahead of me and 2012 would be an amazing year to win it." Footballer and former England captain David Beckham received the Lifetime Achievement award, which was presented to him by Sir Bobby Charlton and Ryan Giggs. "I dedicate my award to the men and the women who are serving our country in Afghanistan," said a visibly emotional Beckham, 35, after receiving a lengthy standing ovation from the crowd at the LG Arena in Birmingham. "I am very humbled to receive an award for something I love doing and to receive it from Sir Bobby Charlton, who was there when I first started at United, I am truly honoured.

"I have been lucky enough to have played for some of the great teams - Preston North End, Manchester United, Real Madrid, AC Milan and Los Angeles Galaxy - and of course playing for England has been the highlight." Diver Tom Daley won the Young Sports Personality of the Year award for the third time. "It has been a very tough year with injury and I was very happy to go to the Commonwealths and come away with two gold medals," said the 16-year-old. 606: DEBATE Well done to McCoy, who has had a great career MarktheHorn The victorious European Ryder Cup side won the Team of the Year award after they defeated the United States by a single point to win back the trophy after a rain-affected competition at Celtic Manor in Wales. "It is an honour to be here on behalf of that team," said team captain Colin Montgomerie as he accepted the award. "We thank you for your support and votes and we want to thank every spectator that turned out to support the team in Wales." Colin Montgomerie was named Coach of the Year but paid tribute to the other members of his Ryder Cup coaching team - Thomas Bjorn, Darren Clarke, Paul McGinley, Mark Roe and Sergio Garcia.

"They are unsung heroes, the guys you don't hear about but who get our team on form and prepared," said the 47-year-old Scot. "It is a fantastic year for European golf." Tennis player Rafael Nadal, who claimed three of the four Grand Slams in 2010, won the Overseas Sports Personality award. "For me it is an honour to receive this award - thank you very much," said the 24-year-old Spaniard. "I am now on a list of great champions who have received this." Basketball coach Lance Haggith took the Unsung Hero award after impressing the judges with his dedication to coaching. The 50-year-old has worked with children and young people of all abilities for the last 30 years. "It is a great award and a great honour but I would like to say I receive this on behalf of all the volunteers that have helped me over the years," said Haggith, who comes from Bedford. "There is not enough recognition to volunteers throughout the UK - without them there would be no backbone to the country." Formula 1 team boss Sir Frank Williams received the Helen Rollason award, a special accolade for outstanding achievement in the face of adversity.

Williams has been in a wheelchair since suffering a spinal injury in 1986 yet remains one of the sport's key figures, helping the Williams team become the third most successful F1 team in history, winning 16 championship titles. "It is one I would love to do again if I was younger," the 68-year-old Williams, who was knighted for his service to motorsport in 1999, said of his career in F1. BBC Sports Personality voting results: 1. Tony McCoy 293,152 (41.98%) 2. Phil Taylor 72,095 (10.33) 3. Jessica Ennis 62,953 (9.02) 4. Lee Westwood 58,640 (8.4) 5. Graeme McDowell 52,108 (7.46) 6. Tom Daley 50,763 (7.27%) 7. Mark Cavendish 44,170 (6.33) 8.

Amy Williams 43,056 (6.17) 9. Graeme Swann 13,767 (1.97) 10. David Haye 7,538 (1.08) Sports Personality 2010 - AP McCoy Bookmark with: 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 Connections Preview: Fifteenth time lucky for AP McCoy?

: : Grand National Free Bet Mike Vince considers a clutch of intriguing National runners and wonders if a certain Irish jockey can put right the misfortunes he has suffered over the years at Aintree. It says much for the quality of this year's National that the field contains two previous winners, an Irish National winner, a Welsh National winner, a Hennessy winner and another former National winner failed to make the cut. But while almost everyone thinks they have a chance, there's a conspicuous lack of the usual adjectives 'big', 'major' and the like as the protagonists weigh up their chances. Start at the top, and Madison du Berlais [80.0], three pounds clear at the top of the handicap and carrying top weight doesn't seem to worry jockey Tom Scudamore. "He's only eight pounds higher than when he won the Hennessy. The handicapper has given him a chance. I schooled him over David Pipe's National fences at home and he was superb and he will like the ground." So too will State of Play [21.0], fourth last year and targeted at this race all year, believes his trainer Evan Williams.

He says: "The weather is going to help us and he is fresh having been trained for this. The rest is in the lap of the Gods. Hopefully he will have the luck." Luck is something to have deserted Champion Jockey AP McCoy in the National, a race he is trying to win at the 15th attempt on board Don't Push It- and trainer Jonjo O'Neill admits to no real surprise McCoy decided on him, rather than stablemate Can't Buy Time. "On his good form he's a very good horse on his day." he says. "He does get very excited in the parade ring and I think he has a better chance of getting the trip than Can't Buy Time." Despite the disappointments of Thursday, this has still been a vintage season for Paddy Brennan who believes Irish Raptor [40.0], trying to win a third National for trainer Nigel Twiston-Davies, will come alive around the famous fences. "He will love the ground but my concern is the trip.Over those fences, and we saw it in last year's Topham you think he is an amazing racehorse.

I am happy to have chosen him, as there did not seem to be one absolute standout amongst Nigel's team." Many of the Irish connections were not due to arrive at Aintree until Friday but they will not be short of confidence if the views of Denis O'Regan, who rides Black Appalachi [18.0] for trainer Dessie Hughes is anything to go by. "I am really looking forward to it." he says. "I won a Becher Chase on him two years ago and it was bad luck when he came down at the second Bechers when going so well last year. He's a year older, which is my concern, but he's only a pound higher." There are chances a plenty in the 2010 National but food for thought, too, in that the legendary training centre at Lambourn, which has supplied a conveyor belt of winners through the years, has but one representative in the shape of Oliver Sherwood's Eric's Charm [60.0] and senior jockeys like Richard Johnson and Choc Thornton are without rides. For 40 of their colleagues, race time can hardly come soon enough. Read More Grand National

Question: Which jockey won the 2010 Aintree Grand National on 'Don't Push It', at his fifteenth attempt?
Answer: TONY MCCOY