3 minute read

Sandown clerk of the course Andrew Cooper admits it will be a strange feeling seeing Tony McCoy in action for the final time on Saturday.

Cooper has been in the role for nearly 20 years and yet has only ever known McCoy as champion jockey.

Tickets are selling out fast for McCoy's final day in the saddle, although how many rides he will actually have is not yet known.

At this stage his only definite mount is Mr Mole, ironically the horse on whom he announced his intention to retire back in February, in the bet365 Celebration Chase, for which Sprinter Sacre was also confirmed a runner.

"There are still limited grandstand tickets available but the Premier Enclosure is sold out," said Cooper.

"My advice to people thinking of coming would be to get a move on, I'd say it's on course to sell-out.

"I'd be hoping for good ground on the day, I've said it's good, good to firm in places today and it would be if we raced this afternoon but I'm hoping for a bit of rain to assist us along.

"We've had a couple of warm days, it's been 18C today, and it's almost drying as we are watering.

"To be fair, it has very rarely been anything other than goodish ground at this meeting in my time here but the last two months have been particularly dry."

Given Cooper's time at Sandown has run parallel with McCoy's career he has seen the champion ride countless big-race winners and his favourite actually came at this meeting in 2009 when Hennessy provided McCoy's good friend Carl Llewellyn with the biggest win of his brief training spell.

"There's been a huge build up to this meeting," said Cooper.

"There was a bit of uncertainty whether or not Tony was going to make this his last day as he could have gone to Punchestown and then he said if he won the National that would be it but to know this is where he'll bow out is great.

"It will be an emotional day.

"I suppose his win on Hennessy in the Gold Cup itself is the win that sticks out most in my mind and I think Tony selected it himself as one of his best 10 of all-time.

"Tony is close friends with Carl Llewellyn who trained him and it was a typical AP ride, he was never going to win anywhere apart form the line.

"There was also a race in 2001 that ranks high. There'd been no Cheltenham that year because of foot and mouth so we hastily put on something of a replacement meeting.

"He won the Champion Chase on Edredon Bleu by a short head from Fadalko and it was an incredible sight. Ruby Walsh was on Fadalko and he tracked him all the way. I'm sure he was in front for a stride or two but Edredon Bleu battled back. It was tremendous.

"I don't think we'll appreciate what he's actually achieved until he's gone.

"I started at Sandown in 1994 so he's the only champion jockey I've ever known. It will be strange next winter not seeing him."

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