McCoy cool on Don't Push It for Aintree repeat

(GETTY IMAGES)

Much as he loves horses, Tony McCoy will be quite prepared to turn his back on the one who has brought him, if not the most fortune, certainly the most fame. Last year's Grand National winner Don't Push It is just one of several that the 15-times champion jockey could ride in this year's Aintree showpiece and he will not let sentiment stand in the way of his choice come the big day in April.

"I'll always be indebted to Don't Push It," he said yesterday as the weights for the 164th running of the great race were unveiled in London, "but if one of the others was looking better, then that's where I'd go. I'm a complete statistics person and no horse has won back-to-back Nationals since Red Rum in the Seventies, it's such a hard thing to do. It is the greatest race, no doubt about it, but last year's is last year's; it's in the past. And I'm looking to the future."

McCoy is 10-1 with Totesport to repeat his feat. Don't Push It's trainer Jonjo O'Neill also has two other bearers of the J P McManus colours, Synchronised and Can't Buy Time, in his squad and favours the last-named. "Don't Push It is hard to keep sound and in the mood and we were lucky last year that the big race coincided with one of his good days," he said. "Synchronised wouldn't be as good as him, and is high enough in the handicap. But Can't Buy Time has a nice racing weight, is a good jumper and likes spring ground."

Don't Push It shares top weight of 11st 10lb with the classy grey Neptune Collonges, one of 10 from the Paul Nicholls stable. Nicholls is one man fervently hoping that statistics can be defied, for the best placing achieved by any of his 48 runners to date was Royal Auclair's second place six years ago.

"We try not to think about that," he said. The five-times champion trainer, 10-1 to break his Aintree duck, nominated 2009 Irish National winner Niche Market, jostling for favouritism with Ballabriggs, as his best hope – the 10-year-old has had airway surgery since his fifth in the Hennessy in November – and lightly-weighted Ornais as his long-shot.

Ireland's leading trainer Willie Mullins has won the John Smith's-sponsored prize, with Hedgehunter. He, too, is mob-handed, with a team of nine, and the one he singled out as his dark horse may add to McCoy's options; Quiscover Fontaine is another of J P McManus's hopes. "We were going to keep him for the Irish National," said Mullins, "but with 10st 6lb he'll get a run at Aintree, and it could be a very good mark."

Grand National market leaders and weights

16-1 Ballabriggs, 11st 10lb

16-1 Niche Market, 10st 13lb

20-1 Big Fella Thanks, 11st 1lb

20-1 Don't Push It, 10st 10lb

20-1 Hello Bud, 10st 5lb

20-1 Merigo, 10st 1lb

20-1 Midnight Chase, 11st 8lb

20-1 Synchronised, 11st 6lb

20-1 The Midnight Club, 10st 13lb

25-1 Becauseicouldntsee, 10st 8lb

25-1 Bluesea Cracker, 10st 4lb

25-1 Majestic Concorde, 11st 5lb

25-1 Neptune Collonges, 11st 10lb

25-1 Notre Pere, 10st 11lb

25-1 Oscar Time, 10st 9lb

25-1 Silver By Nature, 10st 12lb

25-1 State Of Play, 10st 6lb

25-1 West End Rocker, 10st 5lb

33-1 or more others

Odds: Totesport

Turf account

Chris McGrath's Nap

King Fingal (3.50 Musselburgh) Returns to the scene of his maiden hurdles victory after a respectable effort over further, under a penalty.

Next best

Vallani (2.20 Musselburgh) Finished well over course and distance last month for a close second place, well clear of the third.

One to watch

Frequency (M Wigham) Met much trouble in running when unplaced at Wolverhampton on Monday and losses should be only lent.

Where the money's going

Rebel Dance is 16-1 from 25-1 with the sponsors for the Totesport Trophy at Newbury on Saturday.