Newbury Double

What a way to announce your retirement - you ride your 200th winner of the season in a big race like the Game Spirit Chase and then tell Channel 4 that is the last time you will do it as you are hanging up your boots at the end of the season.  The word legend was invented for A P McCoy - in my mind he is the greatest single athlete of all time.  At the end of April he will be crowned champion jockey for an incredible 20th successive season and while he has been handsomely rewarded, the reward is certainly not proportionate to the risks he takes.  Every time he gets the leg up aboard a horse he risks his life whereas footballers risk very little.  McCoy has earned £3 million in percentages down the years - not bad at all I know, but when you consider that Wayne Rooney would take just 10 weeks to earn that, something is clearly wrong.  McCoy the legend, Rooney the moaner (he was booked for it yesterday at West Ham)!

McCoy has broken nearly every bone in his body and rather than moan, he says that he doesn't feel like he has done a day's work in his life.  I will always remember going racing with AP when Martin was flying him to Wincanton only for fog to ground our helicopter.  We had to ditch in a field and AP (who was in his racing gear) decided to get changed - he stood up, dropped his trousers and stood there in his ladies tights.  He then knocked his bag over and it turned upside down into the field that had just been spread with manure.  His face was like thunder and he threatened me not to laugh - it was just too funny though, I'm afraid I was crying with laughter.

I would imagine that there are only two people who are happy about the champ retiring - his wife Chanelle and perennial championship runner-up Richard Johnson!  The only thing I will say is that all of those falls down the years must have clouded his judgement as he is an Arsenal fan!  Pride of place in my home is a picture of AP, Sir Henry Cecil, MCP and myself when we stayed at Warren Place - it makes me feel very humble.  Arise Sir A P McCoy - the legend retires in April and in the meantime I urge you to take your children and grandchildren racing to see him...we will not see his like again.

Anyway, I digress...the stable had a couple of good winners at Newbury on Saturday as Bygones Sovereign (pictured above) completely slipped his field in the staying handicap hurdle under a well-judged front-running ride from conditional jockey Michael Heard.  The jockeys in behind must have been half asleep as they never managed to get within fifteen lengths of our trail-blazing winner.  He had looked thoroughly exposed prior to Saturday, so it will be interesting to see what the handicapper makes of this performance.  Meanwhile, Kings Palace (pictured right) won the two runner novices chase comfortably, although he had to survive a couple of scares at the ditches when he took off much too early.  Other than that, he jumped with aplomb once again and he heads to the Festival with leading claims.

Onto matters of today and there are meetings taking place at Plumpton, Wolverhampton and Catterick.  The stable runs Twentytwo's Taken, Bella, Great Choice and Chic Theatre at Plumpton.  Twentytwo's Taken won at Fakenham on her Pond House debut and she is the winner of three of her four career starts - she looks a really promising sort and has sound claims this afternoon.  Meanwhile McCoy is up at Catterick today having won the Irish Hennessy at Leopardstown yesterday for the first time - he has a couple of fancied rides today.

How on earth could Manchester United get a draw from their match with my beloved West Ham yesterday?  The Hammers completely outplayed United only for the visitors to equalise in the 90th minute.  I bet Sir Alex Ferguson is wondering what on earth is going on.  I think I would have shot of Falcao and Van Persie as they both continue to look poor.  Meanwhile, Chelsea look as though they are being gifted the title as they are now seven points clear of Manchester City.

Apparently wildlife experts had to go down a ladder to rescue a five foot boa constrictor from a house Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire.  I suppose it was a case of snakes and ladders!  I just hope the boa didn't have a crush on his saviour!  You couldn't make it up...