Why AP is better than the rest

[no idea]

All you have to do is watch the 1-50 from Ayr today.
AP on a 16/1 shot and G Rutherford on the 9/4 fav that had romped home on similar ground just last weekend.
The fav went on after the 3rd last with Rutherford looking round on a number of occasions.
The fav jumped the 3rd and 2nd last well and was still 3 lengths in front approaching the last with AP on the second (eventual winner) under strong driving but not catching the fav.
Rutherford for some reason slows the fav up virtually to a stand still and scrambles over the last.
AP in full flight attacks the last and from being 3 lengths down approaching the last he actually lands in front in full flight.
Rutherford though having lost all momentum and almost coming to a standstill has to galvanise the fav and almost gets back up but gets beat a short head.
And therein is the difference bewteen AP and the rest. The result.
I have no doubt had the roles been reversed the fav would have won by 3-4 lengths.
That for me was the ride of the season by AP and shows why he is the undisputed Champion, the likes of I don’t think we will see again.

[betlarge]

And we see it every day from him!

I don’t really follow the human side of racing – jockeys interest me a fair bit, trainers not at all – but AP now transcends his sport anyway.

He has taken the professionalism of NH race-riding to new heights in his career, and his skill, will to win and complete dedication remain the perfect example to those in any sport.

Mike

[Drone]

It’s an obvious and wholly unoriginal very short list but the only three jockeys that have captured my somewhat cynical imagination, and who I could and can enjoy watching at the expense of the horses and the race itself comprise two on the Flat – Lester Piggott and Steve Cauthen, and one National Hunter – Tony McCoy; and of those three McCoy has mesmerised the most, though had anyone fifteen, even as recently as ten years ago suggested he would have eclipsed Piggott and Cauthen in my affections I would have given them short-shrift

At 38 his powers are undiminished, in fact honed I’d proffer, his drive and will to win likewise

His physiognomy is largely warm, welcoming and endearing, but the eyes – those keys to the soul – tell the true tale: sunken, hard, somewhat distant and a trifle troubled.

Great stuff

Enjoy him while you can all; he must now be humming his September Song, surely?

Oh, it’s a long, long while from May to December
But the days grow short when you reach September
When the autumn weather turns the leaves to flame
One hasn’t got time for the waiting game

Oh, the days dwindle down to a precious few
September, November
And these few precious days I’ll spend with you
These precious days I’ll spend with you

Blimey, I’m almost feeling emotional

[% MAN]

I’ve lost count of the number of times I’ve written something along the lines of "once again McCoy gets home a winner that shouldn’t have won", to the extent I’m no longer surprised when he does pull something out of the bag.

He has a single minded determination which is an absolute necessity.

He is a consummate horseman who seems to have a natural affinity with his horses, in that he knows just how much horse he has under him – he knows how far he can push them to get that little bit extra out of them – likewise he also knows when a horse has no more to give and will "accept" defeat in those circumstances.

The other thing with McCoy is that he treats all races the same – it doesn’t matter to him if it is the Gold Cup or a Class Six Seller – he simply wants to win every race.

[Author]

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