AP McCoy: Retired jockey wins Leger Legends at Doncaster

Tony McCoy was back in the saddle and returned to the winner’s enclosure as he steered 7-2 favourite Gannicus to a two-length victory in the Clipper Logistics Leger Legends Stakes.

McCoy’s appearance put nearly 10 per cent on the first-day crowd at the Leger meeting and he insisted after his victory that the crowd had witnessed him ride on a racecourse for the last time.

“Then we have Luke Harvey, Jim Culloty and, of course, AP McCoy, so I can’t wait”.

The race is run to raise money for the Northern Racing College and the Injured Jockeys Fund’s Jack Berry House and the former champion jockey paid credit to Berry for all his work.

Powell added: “Me and AP go back a long way so it’s nice”. “I don’t think there will be anymore rides, unless JP [McManus] asks me, I would never say no to him!“.

“I’m having a bit of a blow now but it’s for a great cause”, said McCoy, who was voted the BBC Sports Personality of the Year in 2010. “I told Frankie that this time previous year he was a hair’s breadth from getting an invitation to ride in this race”, he said.

“I wanted to keep it simple and he travelled well”.

The Irishman, who saddled 4,348 winners in his career, retired as a 20-time champion jockey in April.

His final ride was aboard the Jonjo O’Neill runner Box Office, owned by JP McManus, in the Bet365 Handicap Hurdle, where he finished third. I know everyone is saying it’s a bit of fun and for a great cause, but each and every one of them will be trying their best to win.

Over the summer McCoy told the Belfast Telegraph he was enjoying retirement by playing golf, spending time with his family, going to the football and eating candies. “Jack’s done a lot of work for the Injured Jockeys’ Fund, he’s built a rehabilitation centre that’s second to none”.

Powell suggested that McCoy could “do a Seb”, a reference to Seb Sanders, who rode in a recent race in his stockinged feet because wearing boots would have put him 1lb over his allotted weight.

“He’s not been in a competitive race like this and he was probably in front soon enough, but one crack from AP is about the equivalent of six from Jenny and it made his mind up”. “This is almost as exciting as winning in Dubai [with Dark Emerald] last winter”, he said.

The pair had the race at their mercy previous year when the horse jinked before the line, unshipping Baker, but they made no mistake on Town Moor this time around, sprinting clear of the field to record a length victory.

Jack Berry said: “It couldn’t have worked out any better”.

“It’s a great occasion and I’m really excited about it. I know a lot of the lads and I’m looking forward to seeing Kevin Darley, Michael Hills and Dale (Gibson). To do it on a horse for one of his best friends is great and I must give my thanks to Fred Done (bookmaker) who has bid £15,000 for the saddle AP used today”.