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Belfast Live
Belfast Live
Sport
Gareth Fullerton

The Grand National experience according to legendary jockey AP McCoy

Legendary jockey AP McCoy has revealed exactly what it takes to compete in a Grand National ahead of Saturday's big race.

The Moneyglass star won the National back in 2010, guiding the Jonjo O'Neill trained Don't Push It to victory.

It was McCoy's first win in 15 attempts, and one that will live long in the memory of horse racing punters.

McCoy admits riding in the Grand National is completely different to any other race.

He told Oddschecker : “It’s different in a lot of ways, from all those other horse races because it’s the most famous horse race in the world.

“It’s different from every other horse race in that you can plan and you can have all the thoughts in your head.

“There are very few horse races like it. The build-up to the Grand National is different because you know that it’s on the news in the morning.

“You know that everyone’s talking about it and it’s on the front page of most of the daily newspapers.

McCoy - a 20-time Champion jockey - believes the National has the "power to change a young jockey's life".

He added: “It has the power to change anyone’s life, but it definitely has the power to change a young jockey’s life who might never be lucky enough to become Champion Jockey.

Is the Grand National on TV? Channel information, live stream, betting odds and more for the Aintree Festival  

“Or might never be lucky enough to win the Cheltenham Gold Cup or win any of the other big races.

“It has the power for one of those jockeys to be a so-called superstar for the day. You’d be on every news outlet that evening.

“You can win all the other races and that wouldn’t happen.”

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