John Smith's Grand National - Sheer Delight For McCoy

On a sunny Saturday afternoon at Aintree, there was proof in horse racing that shows good things come to those who wait.  At his 15^th attempt, Tony McCoy finally won the Grand National, steering the 10-1 joint favourite, Don’t Push It around to an emotional Aintree success. 

The 35-year old has over 3,000 winners in his career, but success in the greatest horse race in the world had always eluded him.  A pair of third places on Blowing Wind at the start of the 20^th century was the closest that he came to achieving his ultimate aim.  It was clear when he crossed the line yesterday, how much pressure he was under and how must have been feeling, to end such a bitter and painful jinx.  Trained by Jonjo O’Neill, he held off a race-long challenge from the 14-1 charge, Black Apalachi, who was infront for most of the 4 and half miles.  State of Play finished third, with the other joint-favourite, Big Fella Thanks ending up fourth, fading badly in the closing stages. 

For Paul Nicholls, it has been a painful couple of weeks.  After seeing the Kauto Star vs Denman battle in the Cheltenham Gold Cup turn into an unexpected defeat at the hands of Imperial Commander.  Now, his trusted jockey Ruby Walsh missed the National, after a nasty fall in a warm-up race less than an hour before the 4.15pm start-time.  Walsh, twice a winner of the greatest steeplechase was rushed to hospital with a broken arm.  In-form jockey Barry Geraghty switched rides at the last moment to head up Big Fella Thanks, but with it being at such short notice, it was always going to be a tough task to achieve the top honours.

Following a false start and echoes of that 1993 farce, JP McManus horse, King Johns Castle refused to start, no matter what it took.  It left his jockey, the 1999 winner Paul Carberry feeling embarrassed and dismayed at his non-participation.  For much of the race, McCoy was always in contention, but was still only fourth with two fences to run.  However, Can’t Buy Time was strong right at the end, holding off the strong challenge from Black Apalachi, who at 14-1 was well-backed on the day.  Only fourteen finished this year, with last year’s winner, Mon Mome amongst one of the casualties.  Thankfully, unlike in recent years, all the jockeys and horses that took part on this gruelling course managed to get around safely, without any injuries or fatalities. 

He may have had over 3,000 winners, plus a deserved MBE from the Queen, but the final box off his CV has finally been ticked off.  On Saturday 10^th April 2010, Tony McCoy finally became a Grand National winning jockey.  Good things come to those who wait….