As if it were needed, we have seen tonight another example of what makes AP McCoy the most remarkable jockey, and possibly the most remarkable sportsman, ever. After 19 conscutive jockey championships, after reaching 4000 winners earlier this year, after passing Martin Pipe's record of 4183 winners a few weeks back, one could be forgiven for thinking he might be taking his foot off the gas, winding down, taking things easier. Not a bit of it. He has achieved the fastest ever century of winners in a season, beating his own best mark of Spetember 4th set in 2001, by some 2 weeks. In the 2001-2 season he had, by his own admission, only to point Martin Pipe's horses in the right direction and be carried to victory. How different these days. Whilst Jonjo O'Neil provides a steady flow of winners, he will literally ride anything for anyone and regularly travels the length and breadth of the country in search of winners. Modest and considerate as ever, in his interview immediately after tonight's race, he acknowledged that he has ridden a number of winners for both Don McCain and Kim Bailey which were rightly Jason Maguires (who is unfortunately still out injured). What never ceases to amaze me about McCoy is his humility. Just the other day I was re-watching some of the races from Cheltenham 2013, where he won the Albert Bartlett on the heavily backed favourite, At Fishers Cross. His comments in the post-race interiew told you everything you need to know about the man: "Its very hard to be happy today after what happened yesterday, you know, with John Thomas McNamara. Campbell Gillies won this race last year, he's not here, so you've got to enjoy these moments but it's very difficult at the moment you know" I truly hope he can make 300 winners this season, but whether he does or not, he is, quite simply the best. Hero, legend, inspiration, star. Well done AP
Legend's a grossly overused word but frankly it probably understates this guys accomplishments. 5/1 with Bet365 to ride 300 winners this season. Great bet
It's possible but I wouldn't bet on it. 31% winners to rides is an excellent ratio but he will have to maintain that ratio for another 646 rides making his total rides for the season 969. Since 1994 he has only twice had more than 900 rides and that was in 2001/2 (1006) and last year (903). So to me he has 2 huge tasks to achieve 300 winners: 1. He has to keep (relatively) injury free to have a sufficient number of rides 2. He has to maintain that 31% strike rate with all his remaining rides Listening to his interview (and what a modest, likable chap he is) he has been fortunate to pick up some excellent rides as a result of injuries to some other jockeys. Maybe the best chance of meeting that 300 is picking up those sort of rides Having set out my reasoning why, in my view, 5/1 is not good value, nothing would surprise me with that man (or is he a robot) AP.
I wouldn't have thought there was anyone who thinks he is over rated as a jockey Cyc. He's what I would call a punter's jockey and I can understand their adoration for him. He's paid to get winners and that's exactly what he does, time and again. I doubt there are any records left for him to break are there?
Meh still a poor mans Ruby Walsh imo, no offense to AP he's achievements obviously speak for themselves but the last 3-5 years his great rides are very few and far between, rarely does anything at Cheltenham and just wins loads of crappy little races onboard mostly favorites which even then he still gets beat most of the time. Good rider but not in the same league as Geraghty or Ruby
Rarely does anything at Cheltenham? Given that he doesn't have the ammunition that Ruby (Mullins & Nicholls) or Geraghty (Henderson) have had in the last 3-5 years he has still managed to win a Champion Hurdle on Binocular and a Gold Cup on Synchronised. He hasn't had the superstars like Master Minded, Big Buck's, Hurricane Fly, Sprinter Sacre, Kauto Star - very few jockeys are lucky enough to ride such horses - so the comparison is a little unfair. But how about another comparison - would Walsh or Geraghty have got Arabic History home at Newton Abbot last night? No, because they wouldn't even have been there. Or at Ffos Las today. Or at Cartmel tomorrow. I also used to think that there were better horsemen around than McCoy but if you look at the rides he gives to inexperienced horses he really does teach them what they need to do - Arabic History last night being a fine example. As the front 2 quickened along the back straight McCoy asked his mount to go with them but he got badly outpaced. A reminder with the whip did little to help so he continued hands and heels and gradually got the horse doing what he was supposed to do. The horse picked up really well, swept round the final bend and went on to win going away with his ears pricked. A superb piece of horsemanship.
If were taking about 'finesse' riders the best ain't Ruby or Bazza. The best, most stylish and naturally talented rider is Paul Carberry. APs a legend but not necessarily due to his riding ability, to be fair is there really THAT much between the very top guys mentioned? Probably not. Its his desire, drive and determination to set records and travel hundreds of miles for a single winner. The guys more freak than legend and that's not being derogatory either
Maybe an over used word these days but McCoy deserves the legend accolade IMHO. His autobiography was a good read which often isn't the case in my experience with sports professionals. Came across very honest though and amazing how he managed to hold on to his missus bearing in mind how he admitted to treating her in their 'courtship'. As for his poor Cheltenham record (really?) he will be celebrating with a Gold Cup win in 2015. Taquin De Seuil is the winner. I just hope my piss poor Cheltenham antepost record does not prove too much of a burden or that AP gives the ride away to Geraghty!
Totally, totally true. McCoy has not been top saddle monkey at the Cheltenham Festival since 1998. A fact that his supporters curiously never refer to when discussing his merits. In that time, incidentally, this ‘title’ has been won by such pilots as Robert Thornton, Graham Lee and cor blimey even bally Mick Fitzgerald! McCoy benefits from the media seemingly loving him and both Jonjo O’Neill and JP McManus it would appear having a ‘thing’ for him. Outside of this pair though these days he gets very little ammunition, from others, in the races that matter. Isn’t in the same league in my opinion as old boys Ruby and Barry and this pair must chuckle like lunatics every time they hear Channel 4 presenters utter the words, ‘There will never be another one like, A.P.’. In conclusion I’m not denying he’s a highly capable saddle monkey but his profile does not match his riding ability.
And lose 2 on the same horse. McCoy supporters look back at the 2009 and 2012 renewals and let’s hear even one word of postitivity from you. If you can achieve this ‘New’ Labour will head hunt you and appoint you their next spin doctor. In '09 he was made to look like a weak apprentice as both Barry and Ruby out thought him, out rode him and out battled him. In '12 he made the decision to track Hurricane Fly and pay no heed whatsoever to the rest of the field. This tactic led to several others kicking for home before McCoy realised and him giving the great horse no chance at all. They were long gone whilst all he did was stare at Ruby's backside! He was saved from a tongue bashing by the trainer because (a) he is a total gentleman and (b) if he had done so McManus would have withdrew all his horses from the yard before you could say 'There will never be another one like, A.P.'. When he chose My Tent or Yours over Jetski in last year’s Champion there was many a long face (and not just the gee-gees) at Seven Barrows whilst at old girl Jessie’s they had a party lasting days!
Judging by the near silence amongst the huge crowd when ROR prevailed I reckon AP wasn't the only one who thought the mighty Fly was the one to beat.
He's not too bad, according to Wiki, (if they can believed) A.P has won 30 Cheltenham Festival races. If he's not getting the support from the likes of Paul Nicholls, he's be doing a fair job. There is no way that history will turn a blind eye to a man who wins 19 titles back to back. Add more Lester Award winners that anyone else, and his place in UK racing history is well and truly cemented.
Ironic that the only Champion Hurdle won by Binocular, despite the most able assistance from the saddle, was the year that the horse was taken away from Mr Henderson's magic hands and sent to Ireland for a bit of the old "special treatment". I know this might be forum rebellion, but was "someone" able to get the horse more ready than Mr Henderson? Nay, Nay I hear you cry (with 2 capital Ns), but the horse never ran within a stone of than performance afterwards. Hmmmmmmm.
Boo! Hiss!! The villagers will be mobilised with pitch forks and torches for the assault on Chuckle Towers.
I've sent a strongly-worded letter to the Gloucester Hare and Hounds society, demanding his immediate disbarment.
