Don Cossack, ridden by Tony McCoy, on his way to winning the Melling Steeple Chase during Aintree race meeting's Ladies Day at Aintree Racecourse Liverpool Friday. — Reuters
LIVERPOOL — Tony McCoy warmed up for his final Grand National Steeplechase by cruising to a 26-length win in Friday's featured race at the Aintree Festival. McCoy showed he is in prime form ahead of his last appearance in the National by riding Don Cossack to a dominant victory in the Melling Chase. The 19-time champion jockey was also a comfortable winner in the signature race Thursday — the Aintree Hurdle — aboard Jezki. McCoy, Britain's most successful jumps jockey, is retiring after the current jumps season, which finishes on April 25. He has suggested he will quit immediately if he wins Saturday's Grand National on pre-race favorite Shutthefrontdoor. “Sometimes I feel sad about it,” McCoy said. “There's days when I wish it wasn't coming to an end, but the reality of it is it is coming to an end. I know deep down it's the right thing.” Don Cossack dominated a strong field thanks to an impressive display of jumping in the Grade 1 race over 2 miles, four furlongs. By the time he had soared over the final fence, fellow join favorite Champagne Fever had fallen away and Sire de Grugy — who won the Queen Mother Champion Chase at Cheltenham last year — was out of the race after tumbling with over a circuit left to run. Sam Waley-Cohen, one of the great Corinthians of modern sport, made history Friday by becoming the most successful rider in the modern era over Aintree's famous and formidable Grand National obstacles. The amateur jockey, a well-connected friend of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge who rides only as a family sideline, won the Topham Chase on his father Robert's horse, 10-1 shot Rajdhani Express, for an unprecedented sixth victory over the spruce fences. — AP
