Hundreds of people joined Grand National winning trainer Jonjo O’Neill outside his local pub yesterday to celebrate Don’t Push It’s victory.
Jonjo, 57, savoured the win as locals toasted him in the blazing sun outside the Plough Inn at Ford, near Temple Guiting, Glos., at 11am. The win was equally significant for jockey Tony McCoy, who broke his Grand National hoodoo by winning at the 15th attempt. The victory came at the 16th time of asking for Jonjo, who yesterday admittedhe was doubting if he was ever going to win it.
As well as 15 attempts as a trainer, he failed to complete the course in seven rides as a jockey. He said: ”It was the biggest thrill of my life. It was fantastic. ”It’s something you dream about as a kid and now I’ve managed to achieve my dream.
”You think it’s never going to happen but you still keep dreaming.” Don’t Push It was paraded past locals through his gallops led by jockey and stable amateur Alan Berry. Tony McCoy, 35, from Northern Ireland also made a fleeting appearance before heading to Nottingham, where he was due to race yesterday afternoon.
He was accompanied by his wife Chanelle and two-year-old daughter Eve, who presented him with a hand-written poster which read ‘My daddy is the greatest jockey.’
McCoy said: ”I’ve been trying to win the Grand National for years, so to finally win it is surreal,” McCoy said. ”Don’t Push It is the greatest horse, in my mind, and will always have a
special place in my heart.”
