Tony McCoy hails retiring Grand National winner Don’t Push It

Tony McCoy pictured riding Don't Push It to victory in the 2012 Grand National (GETTY IMAGES)

Tony McCoy has hailed his Grand National winning horse Don’t Push It after the 12-year-old gelding was retired from racing.

Don’t Push It famously ended McCoy’s 15 year wait for Grand National glory at Aintree in 2010.

He then put in an honourable performance as the returning champion carrying top weight a year later to finish third behind Ballabriggs.

But he has recently struggled for form and came sixth in his last outing at Cheltenham in November.

McCoy said on At The Races: “The last thing we wanted was for something to happen to him, so the decision was pretty easy to make.

"He gave his all. He gave me the greatest day of my racing life - I always wanted to win the Grand National.

"I will always be indebted to Don't Push It."

Trainer, Jonjo O’Neill said his “unbelievable horse” had not been showing the same old sparkle on the gallops at his Cheltenham base.

O’Neill said: "We thought we had him right again this year after he ran so well over hurdles at Cheltenham, but he's now telling us that enough is enough.

"He's a smashing horse and will never be forgotten."

Don’t Push It won eight races in a 29-race career, yielding over £750,000 in prize-money. He will spend his retirement at owners JP McManus’ Martinstown Stud in County Limerick.

O'Neill added: "The whole yard, and especially Tony and JP, owe him everything.

“He was also mine and JP's first National winner and obviously means the world to both of us.

"He's been an unbelievable horse and I'm sure he will be well looked after at JP's - he will have a great retirement.”