Among the many glowing tributes paid to Tony McCoy here on Saturday was one from the retired footballer Ian Wright which must have meant a great deal to the jockey, a longstanding Arsenal fan. Wright presented McCoy with his champion jockey’s trophy and compared the rider to a vintage Gunners squad.
“AP McCoy is made of something else altogether,” Wright said. “For 20 years he has been at the top of his game, riding winners week in, week out. I can think of no other sportsman or woman who can match his record.
“Like the Arsenal team of 2003-04, he’s proven that he truly is an invincible. It was an incredible honour to award him with his trophy for the final time on the day he retires.”
Praise for McCoy from his weighing room colleagues was led by Richard Johnson, who has ridden more winners than any jump jockey with the sole exception of McCoy, yet has never been champion because their careers have coincided. “It’s sad that he won’t be sat next to me,” Johnson said with more generosity of spirit than could reasonably be expected.
“He’s a good friend as much as anything else. In a racing point of view, I’m quite glad he won’t be there to do me on the line before the winning post comes. I think he’s been overwhelmed by the amount of support and people who wanted to say hello, or goodbye. It’s been amazing and it’s a fantastic day for him to have a send-off.”
Johnson is now the 7-4 favourite with bookmakers to win a first champion jockeys’ title from the new season that starts next week. But the 800 or so rides McCoy would have taken will be widely shared and there are other talents such as Sam Twiston-Davies and Tom Scudamore who are determined to make the most of a McCoy-free future.
There will even be some interest at 33-1 in Sean Bowen, a 17-year-old making a name for himself, who on Saturday secured the title of champion conditional for the season just completed, an award that goes to jump racing’s top apprentice.
McCoy was asked to offer advice to the young Bowen, who was not even conceived when the older man won the first of his championships. “Just to enjoy every moment of it and try and keep getting better,” McCoy said. “I tried all my life to be better and could never get to where I wanted to be. He’s very lucky, being 17 years of age. I wish I was his age, that’s for sure.”
Bowen had earlier ridden a double on the card, including in the feature Bet365 Gold Cup on Just A Par.
Nicky Henderson’s star Sprinter Sacre, who finished second in the AP McCoy Celebration Chase at Sandown , is to continue racing next season.
“Sprinter Sacre looks as if he’s the physical specimen we’re looking for. He’s run his race and we can build on it,” said the Lambourn trainer, adding that Bob’s Worth would also race on.
