Legendary jockey Sir AP McCoy has created five artworks celebrating his greatest accomplishments in the saddle, including his Grand National success on Don’t Push It.
The 20-time champion jump jockey who rode a record 4,357 winners in a glittering career in the saddle has chosen his five most memorable moments for a collection of pictures which will go on display at Aintree.
The paints used were infused with turf from Aintree, as well as Cheltenham, plus needles from the famous Grand National fences, for the project McCoy has completed in conjunction with Icons Art.
McCoy won the 2010 Grand National on Don’t Push It on his 15th attempt at winning the historic race.
“I was very good at convincing myself I could win the Grand National,” he said “I believed it would always happen, I just wish it hadn’t taken so long.”
The 48-year-old has also included his 1997 Cheltenham Gold Cup victory on Mr Mulligan and his record 287 wins in a season, set in 2001-2, for the collection, of which 20 full size limited edition prints have been produced signed by McCoy.
He said: “I was very lucky. I went through a period of time when racing was at its best and I had a lot of good people around me to make it happen. But you also need to have a good work ethic and discipline, and you need to believe you can be successful.”
Of his creations he said: “It’s good to have a little bit of DNA in the artwork because there were many times I landed in the Chair, and I don’t think there’s anyone who rolled around in the grass at Cheltenham more than me.
“I ended up with the DNA imprinted on me, and now it’s nice to have it imprinted into the artwork as well.”
