Races
Aintree Rewind: AP McCoy lands first Grand National victory with Don’t Push It in 2010
The Champion Jockey waited 15 years to win the National Hunt showpiece on Don’t Push It
When the 2010 Grand National arrived, a trio of big racing names was hoping to record their maiden success in their biggest race of them all.
AP McCoy had been Champion Jockey for 14 consecutive seasons and was on the verge of winning his fifteenth title when he headed up to Aintree, with the hope of ending his National hoodoo.
Owner JP McManus was waiting to see his famous green and yellow hooped silks in the Grand National winners’ enclosure, while trainer Jonjo O’Neill was hoping to win the race that had eluded him as a jockey.
All three combined in the form of Don’t Push It – the 10/1 favourite.
The 10-year-old stayed in mid-division for the majority of the race before beginning to track the leaders after the 17th fence.
The Irish-bred talent kept gaining on the leading group and by two out, he found himself in second behind Black Apalachi.
O’Neill’s runner jumped into the lead at the final fence and produced a strong staying effort to pull clear at the Elbow.
The gelding crossed the line five lengths clear and with an ecstatic AP McCoy on board, as his long wait for a Grand National victory had finally been ended.
Don’t Push It would go on to race in the National the following year, finishing third before being retired in January 2012.
