• Horse Racing

National winner Don't Push It retired

ESPN staff
January 10, 2012
Don't Push It provided AP McCoy with one of his greatest days in the saddle © Getty Images
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Don't Push It, the horse who handed AP McCoy his first win in the Grand National when taking the race in 2010, has been retired.

The now 12-year-old produced a supreme display over the famous Aintree fences to provide McCoy, trainer Jonjo O'Neill and owner JP McManus with a first win in the race.

Don't Push It was a gallant third behind Ballabriggs last year and was being primed for another crack at the race. He made a fine start to the season at Cheltenham in November, but his recent homework had been disappointing - prompting connections to call time on his career.

"Don't Push It remains in good heart and looks a picture out in his field at the bottom of the gallops where he has lived with the sheep who have kept him company for a few years now," O'Neill told the Racing Post. "But he had not really been sparkling in his recent homework and the last thing we wanted to do was make him carry on doing something he was not really happy with.

"After speaking with JP and his racing manager Frank Berry we all decided the best thing to do was call it a day as he owes nobody anything after what he has done. He'll now be off to JP's stud for a long retirement.

"It will be not be easy to replace him in the yard and he'll be missed by everyone at Jackdaws Castle and, I am sure, the jump racing world as a whole."

Don't Push It was a winner of eight of his 29 races - amassing more than £750,000 in prize-money.

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
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