Back in his element: Sir Anthony McCoy is injured again and rather enjoying it
Lee Mottershead hears a sporting legend talk candidly about mental health
Sir Anthony McCoy is injured. This is not an altogether new experience for the greatest of all jump jockeys, but five years to the day since he bowed out at Sandown, bringing to an end a career that delivered 20 consecutive championships, McCoy has been reunited with the sensation of waiting for his body to heal.
What happened on Tuesday, April 7, completed a miserable period for the winner of a record 4,348 British and Irish jumps races. The previous Saturday he marked the tenth anniversary of his famous Aintree triumph aboard Don't Push It by virtually partnering the same horse in the legends' version of the Virtual Grand National. In a major algorithm failure, McCoy sent his mount into the lead far too soon, consigning the partnership to certain failure. That was bad. Worse was to come three days later when he was unshipped from an actual horse, dislocating his left shoulder.
"Don't Push It would have had a big chance if I had ridden him properly," he says. "I was shouting at the TV when I sent him on so far out. To make things worse, I got abused on Twitter as well. I was woeful. It was a terrible ride. I would definitely have sacked myself."
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Published on 24 April 2020inInterviews
Last updated 18:32, 24 April 2020
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