Three points couldn't spoil AP's big day
Posted on 12/04/2010Tony McCoy's wait for a Grand National winner finally came to an end on Saturday, and in the Daily Telegraph 14-time champion jockey McCoy reveals that even being pulled over by the police for talking on his mobile phone while driving couldn't dampen his spirits.
Quite apart from the fact that I was beginning to think it might never happen, I never, for a moment, thought winning the Grand National would be quite so emotional. Maybe it is because I had been trying for so long and had so often walked out of Aintree on a Saturday night disappointed and deflated but, until you win it, you have no idea of the effect it will have on you.Not many things have reduced me to tears but I found it incredibly emotional that wave after wave of well-wishers were so genuinely pleased and happy for me. Two of the first people to congratulate me were Ted Walsh, Ruby's father, and Martin Pipe, my old boss, two of the biggest names in the sport. I could see how happy they were for me and, for some reason, it just opened the floodgates.
I know well enough no one has a divine right to win this race, it can happen to anyone. But now when I do retire I will retire a happy man. It would have always irked me if I hadn't won it.
I had always tried to comfort myself with the thought that better jockeys than myself, like John Francome, Peter Scudamore didn't win it and that Jonjo O'Neill, Don' Push It's trainer, couldn't even get round. Each year you come back hoping for, though never expecting, better luck. But by the time I had jumped five fences on Saturday my mentality changed and my mood was much more optimistic because I felt the horse was loving it.
After the racing and all the interviews were done I drove into Liverpool and I hadn't gone more than a few hundred yards when the police pulled me over for talking on my mobile phone. I couldn't believe it when they did me for three points – you would have thought that on Saturday of all days they might have let me off, especially as I was on the phone to my mum at home in Ireland. My driver, Barney Jones, who had the week off, is really pleased though because it means he can keep his job a bit longer!Hundreds of racegoers were walking back into Liverpool; they were cheering as they went past and telling the police not to do me. One, who lived in Melling Road, said if it was an on-the-spot fine he would even pay it for me. They would have had to lock me up to spoil my day though.
Meanwhile, while many of the back pages show pictures of Phil Mickelson donning his third green jacket, Derek Lawrenson in the Daily Mail sings the praises of 16-year-old amateur Matteo Manassero who caught the eye at Augusta.
This exceptional Masters saw many remarkable age-defying feats at one end of the spectrum from Fred Couples, Tom Watson and Sandy Lyle in the opening round.But none caught the eye quite like the performance of a 16-year-old Italian with the looks of an Armani model and the gossamer touch of a young Alessandro del Piero.
If you want to know how hard it is for amateurs thrust into the alien surroundings of Augusta National, consider this: none had made the cut for five years and no British Amateur Champion had survived all four rounds since Sergio Garcia in 1999.
The Seve Ballesteros comparison is not surprising given his flair around the greens and dashing looks, but in terms of temperament he could hardly be more different.
Think Germanic rather than Latin; Langer rather than Seve. Manassero will turn pro next month after celebrating his 17th birthday, and his father Roberto, who accompanied his son last week, is confident he can cope.
'His age is not important,' he said. 'What is important is that he's tranquil. Matteo is not a self-absorbed person. I see with all the attention he is now getting, he is still the same Matteo.'
When Shakespeare wrote about gentlemen of Verona he talked about the uncertain glory of an April day. On this April day, nothing seems more certain than a future played out at the highest level for this budding Verona gentleman.