AP McCoy to ride Don't Push It in Grand National
Tony McCoy is expected to climb onboard last year's winner Don't Push It in the John Smith's Grand National at Aintree on April 9.
Given how many years it took the 15-times champion jockey to win the famous race, it would be fitting if he won a couple back-to-back and his victory last year no doubt contributed to his BBC Sports Personality of the Year award.
Red Rum was the last horse to win in two consecutive years and the necessary walloping from the handicapper usually results in topweight being carried by the previous winner. That is indeed the case again, although the additional weight will only mean an extra 5 lb on Don’t Push It’s back. AP had the following to say in his Daily Telegraph column;
"I know when the weights came out last month I told a room full of journalists and connections that there was a possibility I would look beyond Don't Push It this year. But 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. He ran a great race in the Midlands National, in which the testing ground played to his strengths, but on a faster surface I fear that they would go too quick for him."
When the weights came out in February, it was Ballabriggs who took the eye and trainer Donald McCain issued a positive report in his Bangor racecourse blog, writing;
"Ballabriggs remains in good form and will have a gallop at a racecourse before Aintree to get him spot on."
It has been a quiet preparation for the latest McCain National hopeful, a couple of wins over hurdles in January being followed by a defeat over fences in early March, a result not troubling connections and on the day, Ballabriggs could show that not slogging round the mud off big weights all winter was just the right move.