** EXCLUSIVE ** AP McCoy Chats To Radio City
Saturday the 11th April 2015 was a historic day for Merseyside. The 168th Grand National meeting also marked a record 20th race for legendary jockey AP McCoy competing over the big fences for the final time before retiring. McCoy, who won the National in 2010 on Don't Push It, was hoping to do the same again on Shut The Front Door. It wasn't to be on the day though as Many Clouds raced to victory at a sun soaked Aintree racecourse in front of 72, 000 people. But it was a moving and emotional day nevertheless. Hours before the race began, Radio City reporter Lauren Moss met with Tony McCoy. They chatted about his memories of Aintree, his fondness for Liverpool and his admiration of Steven Gerrard. Click below to hear more
John Baker, Regional Director of Jockey Club Racecourses said it was one of the best race meetings ever.
"It's been a great three days," said Baker.
"The weather has been incredible, so we've been lucky with that. I think the atmosphere and the buzz and feeling about the place has been brilliant. It felt like a really big Festival that people were here to celebrate.
"There was a great crowd on the first day - a record crowd for the Thursday. We had 45,000 here on Friday, which was 2,500 up on last year which was tremendous.
"We've also had a sell-out crowd here today of over 72,000 and another dramatic running of the Crabbie's Grand National. It was amazing to see another winner for Trevor Hemmings (owner of Many Clouds) who has got a fantastic association with the racecourse.
"As ever, the Crabbie's Grand National has thrown up another tremendous story. To have Many Clouds, a Hennessy Gold Cup winner earlier on in the season, win the race is testament to what we've been trying to achieve. He's a high quality winner and one of the best performances we've seen in a long time to carry that weight (11st 9lb) to victory.
"It was great to see A P McCoy travel so well in the race which heightened the drama and, although it wasn't meant to be (A P's mount Shutthefrontdoor finished fifth) he's been a terrific ambassador for the sport.
"We couldn't be more pleased with the way things have gone this week."
BHA head of handicapping Phil Smith added: "Many Clouds' success in the Crabbie's Grand National is the best performance in the race on ratings since Red Rum carried top-weight to victory in 1974."