Champion jockey and BBC Sports Personality of the Year Tony McCoy revealed that he is set to confirm he will once again ride 2010 winner Don’t Push It at Aintree in the Grand National 2011.
After 14 years of heartbreak, the people’s favourite national hunt jockey finally achieved a lifetime’s ambition by leading the Jonjo O’Neill-trained 11 year-old to an emotional and deserved success in the race last year, beating Black Apalachi into second. Now McCoy has all but confirmed he will be in the saddle astride Don’t Push It again this year in his column in the Daily Telegraph.
"The last horse to complete back-to-back wins in the National was the great Red Rum in 1974," McCoy wrote, "so we will be trying to achieve something special."
McCoy had initially refused to be drawn on his intentions for the big race in Aintree following the release of the weights for the race in February, when as expected Don’t Push It was handed a top weight of 11-10. At that point, McCoy stated that there was a possibility that he would seek a different ride for Aintree.
The milder recent weather conditions in the UK, and how that will affect the going at Aintree, seem to have played a huge role in influencing the 15-times champion jockey’s decision.
"With the weather we are having at present, the ground should be good and that will be in his favour.
"My other possible National mount has been Synchronised...but on a faster surface, I fear they would go too quick for him."
McCoy’s apparent decision to team up once again with his horse provides an intriguing option for the many punters for whom the Grand National is their one horse racing betting experience of the year.
Already a favourite of many amateur punters, as evidenced by his success in the BBC TV Sports Personality of the Year show in 2010, the McCoy-Don’t Push It partnership will no doubt see the odds on this horse fall as we head towards the Aintree showpiece.
Indeed, the horse racing betting markets for the National will no doubt grow in intensity over the next week or so as increasing numbers of jockeys and the final 40 runners for the race are confirmed. When the final field is named and the jockeys' names disclosed, there will no doubt be a rush of bets as people focus their selections on the horses they feel have outstanding potential to win the race.
Chief rivals to McCoy for a rare back-to-back victory in the event come from the current favourite, The Midnight Club. The Willie Mullins-trained 10 year-old is not only handicapped generously, but ran to an impressive victory at Fairyhouse in his last outing and as a result he was installed as the 10-1 favourite for the big race at Aintree. This year, however, the field looks extremely well matched with several horses in with a real chance of success.
For many punters, the temptation to back McCoy and Don’t Push It for an unlikely double win may be too strong and come 9th April, it seems likely the odds on another McCoy victory in the race will have shortened considerably.