McCoy shrugs off retirement jibes

TONY McCoy distanced himself from any possibility of retirement as he basked in the glory of a first John Smith's Grand National success aboard Don't Push It.

The 14–times champion endured plenty of ribbing from fellow jockeys Paddy Brennan and Tom Scudamore in the aftermath of his Aintree triumph, but the Gold Cup and Champion Hurdle–winning rider is not contemplating the easy life just yet.

The man who became the first to partner 3,000 winners last spring partied long into the night in Liverpool after the 10–1 joint–favourite provided him with a first National win at the 15th attempt – but not one drop of champagne crossed his lips.

"Amazing isn't it," said the 35–year–old after posing for pictures with his daughter Eve, wife Chanelle and trainer Jonjo O'Neill at the bottom of trainer Jonjo O’Neill's Jackdaws Castle yard.

"I didn't get home until 5am and have only had a couple of hours sleep.

"I had a few Red Bulls to keep me awake, but this is a surreal feeling.

"If I liked the taste of champagne I might have had some, but I don't even like the taste.

"I didn't get to see many of the boys after the race, but Tom and Paddy kept asking me when I am going to retire.

"I do hope that one day I wake up and say that this isn't for me before I make a fool of myself.

"I love what I do and hope for my own mental state that I do wake up like that one day.

"But I live in the future, not the past. The season starts again in two weeks and I want to be champion jockey again and I want Binocular to win the Champion Hurdle again.

"Don't Push It has always had a bit of class and I knew that if he took to it then he could win.

"The way he jumped the first few fences I knew we had a chance of winning.

"Each time I pulled him out and showed him daylight he kept picking up and he gave me the impression he would stay."