Aintree Grand National 2015: McCoy sweet on Shutthefrontdoor

Legendary jockey AP McCoy is yet to decide on who he will ride in this year’s Crabbie’s Grand National, but Shutthefrontdoor is expected to be the choice and the soon to be crowned 20-time champion believes he has a “very good chance”.

It will be the final time that McCoy will ride in the famous race, which he won at the fifteenth attempt on Don’t Push It in 2010, before retirement.

Like Don’t Push It, Shutthefrontdoor – the current 8/1 favourite with Coral – is owned by JP McManus, who also has another live contender for the contest in the shape of Cheltenham Festival winner Cause Of Causes.

McCoy said: “The Grand National is the most famous horserace in the world and to be able to take part each year is very exciting.

“It was one of the greatest moments of my racing career to win the Grand National on Don’t Push It.I had 14 attempts before Don’t Push It came along. Jonjo [O’Neill] had him in unbelievable form and to win the Grand National for Noreen and JP McManus was amazing. It is a day I will never forget – I felt a lot of fulfilment.

“We have Shutthefrontdoor and the Cheltenham winner Cause Of Causes – they are two I am most likely to have to choose from. Shutthefrontdoor won the Irish National and has not run since winning at Carlisle in November.

“If you look through the form book, the Carlisle race and the Irish National were not particularly strong, but he is trained by Jonjo O’Neill who has an unbelievably good record in training horses for staying chases. If I am on Shutthefrontdoor, he has a very good chance.

“I have dreamt a lot in my life but I would not be silly enough to dream about winning the National again – it would be nice if it happened. Looking at the betting, the bookmakers seem to think it is going to happen and hopefully they are right.

“I am sorry for all the failures I have had in the Grand National over the years and this will be the last time I let anybody down but hopefully I will go out on a high and shut the front door behind me!”