Does anybody else miss Tony McCoy?

EC1 said:
Ruby is a personal favourite of a large %..that doesn't mean he is the best..its just means more people will say he is better than the rest...doesn't make it so.
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You still using the grit as the basis for AP being the best? Or just saying that people with other opinions are wrong and you are right and unwilling to go further into what it means to be the best.
 
HawkWing said:
Grit isnt the test of jockeyship. McCoy is a better jockey than to relegate his claims to greatness down to grit.

When people talk about the greatest midfielder, you can go down the Zidane route, or you can choose Keane.

McCoy is the Keane. So be it.
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i didn't mean it was the only test..its just the one test where i have never seen anyone else better though. Re jockeyship..at this level..they are all very good horsemen.

Yes i like your Keane comparison

Richard Hughes to me is similar to Ruby..has that ability to use his balance to get a horse to show its full ability by negating the negative effect of having a person on the horse's back..its a great art..and in the past we have had many jocks with that ability. Finesse versus brute strength is what we have..some people like one thing in a jock..others like another

my preference to watch is Ruby/Hughes style..my preference if i have backed a horse is a McCoy ..with real strength in a finish
 
HawkWing said:
You still using the grit as the basis for AP being the best? Or just saying that people with other opinions are wrong and you are right and unwilling to go further into what it means to be the best.
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.i never said that people who disagree are wrong...i said just because a few say something..its doesn't make it right.

Of course grit and determination are a big part of McCoys success
 
That's fair EC1. If Carberry had an 1/100th of McCoy's determination and attitude, there would be no need for any of these threads. He doesn't though.

I also dont like the 'well he won the most' as shorthand for him being the greatest. While claiming McCoy isnt the greatest is a bit controversial, most would agree that Richard Johnson isnt the second best. Again, pointing to the number of winners does down McCoy's claim to greatness IMO.
 
unless we can measure all these aspects we won't ever get an answer

i think what we as racing fans see in jockeys like Ruby + Carberry is not going to be seen by joe public..whereas what McCoy has will be seen..the never say die attitude. Then again..Piggott was a national institute..and only Cauthen has be near him..imo..who though well known...not as much as Lester

its all down to personal preference really..like i say..i personally like watching the jock who can conserve energy..and has a clock in head..these are two things i rate highly..but i have never seen a person like McCoy..even though his style isn't up my street visually..he was a force of nature the likes i haven't seen before.
 
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Ruby is always going to look stylish. He is though sat on Aston Martins most days. Hard to look good when sat on mopeds most weeks. Both class Jocks with different styles. Clearly style can form ones opinion.
 
Yeah, if you go down just the determination/never say die route as shorthand for his greatness. I can remember David Bridgwater getting the Pipe job on the back of his determinated riding style. I would say that was even more agressive and more "never say die" than McCoy. No doubt McCoy was better jock than Bridgwater but not about about Adrian Maguire, who would be very similar.

Back to the OP, I do miss McCoy on the boring midweek racedays.
 
JP had the AP retirement bash at Adare Manor last night I believe.
2000 guests ( i thought he would have a guest for each winner he rode,each with a tee shirt of each individual winner ) and nobody on a diet.
I do not miss AP for the simple reason that he has retired in relatively one piece, which to me is more important than seeing him ride well into his 40s.
Seeing the lump of bone where his collar bone should be the last few interviews he gave was enough for me.
To retire after his Uxizandre Festival win would have been ideal but AP in one piece will do me fine thanks.
Plus his absence will create about four jockey jobs down the road.
 
We are talking here about the man who paid for Tiger Woods wedding in one of the worlds top resorts.

I can't bring myself to knock a man who's loyalty and generosity to his friends is legend.

He has raised millions and given millions to Charity and deserves a sainthood.

The very fact AP was not only his retained jockey but became a close family friend why would he not do something like this.

One should also consider that many of the guests are on the JP list when it comes to raising money for the less fortunate.

Personally I will miss AP like I would miss a hole in the head.

To me the heroes of racing are the horses like Arkle, Persian War Istabraq Kauto Dessie and Sprinter.............as Ruby walsh would NOT say they are only people they can be replaced LOL

Ok no one has dominated their sport like AP has but outside of racing it will have very little impact.

They made a movies about Aldaniti, Secretariat and Sea Biscuit but AP will have to be content with a documentary which will not be threatening Batman V Superman at the box office.

Anyway he'll no doubt be back as master of Jackdaw when Jonjo decides to call it a day
 
'To me the heroes of racing are the horses like Arkle, Persian War Istabraq Kauto Dessie and Sprinter.............as Ruby walsh would NOT say they are only people they can be replaced LOL'
Blow me, Tanlic; you really are a big softie after all!
 
I'm not blowing anyone. I stopped smoking 6 weeks now....My friend Russell asked me how do you do it and I said....I suck the odd Fisherman's Friend and he's been taking the **** out of me ever since.:lol:

I'm just wondering how much Jonjo will miss him. He's managed to train an average of just on a 100 winners over the last 5 years.

Jonjo will be all out to maintain that average but it is surely a big ask with AP booting home those who no one else could have.
 
Spent an enjoyable hour in the company of A P last night ( well there were a few hundred others as well:)) at the Cheltenham Literature Festival where the good and the great from all walks of life gather to talk about their books and latest ventures. In A P's case this is a sequel to his first novel and a book containing some of his memoirs, as well as a film which is due for release next month and which has been well received at the Toronto Film Festival no less. Apparently he only did the film for his son Archie who incidentally is now recovered from his heart problems.

He talked about life since retiring, his injuries and how he dealt with them and how he was able to "cheat" his way back to riding when he really shouldn't have done. Still rides out from time to time , he's at Henderson's today for example and Jonjo's tomorrow. He is enjoying the media work he currently does but doesn't see himself as a trainer mainly because of having to deal with owners. The only training job he would remotely consider is at Ballydoyle, wouldn't consider NH training at all.

He has had plenty of holidays, recently went to Portugal on a golfing holiday with the usual gang, Carl LLewelyn etc and whilst there they hatched a plan regarding J T McNamara who used to go on their golfing trips and whilst everyone else stayed back at the hotel in the evenings J T used to check out the casinos. Consequently they have all took J T to Las Vegas for three days a few days ago which meant A P missed the premiere of his film for which he was not remotely sorry, "not my scene at all".

Looking really healthy, just returned from holiday weighing 11st 9lb so has been running a lot since.

The evening finished with questions from the audience, the last one being "Which was the most talented horse you rode ?" Answer after a special mention for Synchronised

"Gloria Victis"
 
Am still considering going to Henrietta Knight's do, not sure when it is mind, Thursday maybe.

Are you going tiggers ?
 
Tanlic said:
I'm just wondering how much Jonjo will miss him. He's managed to train an average of just on a 100 winners over the last 5 years.
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Jonjo is a bit of a bluffer, capable of getting one in at a big price at a festival

Am certain JP could find a better operator if he was pushed
 
granger said:
Jonjo is a bit of a bluffer, capable of getting one in at a big price at a festival

Am certain JP could find a better operator if he was pushed
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JP already has a far better operator training for him - sadly the person in question isn't getting any younger.

Think as Tanlic says that Jonjo will miss AP more than McManus will - with JP having a top jockey lined up to replace him and very little change to things in Ireland with Walsh and co still picking up the bulk of the rides and riding plenty of winners.

Martin
 
Maybe it's something to do with a setting I have somewhere but I tried to buy tickets at lunchtime today off that page and nothing happens when clicking "Buy" and as it says click only once I didn't retry. Eventually the order timed out.

Will probably just go on the night as price at the door is no dearer.
 
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