AP McCoy ready to ride into the sunset
Traditionally the biggest day of betting in the year for Irish bookies, the Grand National is often the one day in the year people with no interest in racing put a few bob on a horse.
Paddy Power is estimating that tens of millions will be wagered with Irish bookies on the Grand National alone.
The bookmaker said that with close to 90% of all bets set to be placed today, the resources of all Irish bookmakers will be stretched to the limit. Paddy Power anticipates that well over 600,000 bets will be placed on its online platforms in the hour before the race.
“The Grand National manages to draw the attention of the entire public and it is without a doubt the single biggest betting event of the year. Some people reserve their only bet of the year for the Aintree spectacle — we’ll be glued to the race along with the rest of the country,” said a spokesperson.
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The Grand National will also see one of the sport’s greatest icons bow out, as soon-to-be 20 times champion jockey AP McCoy saddles up for the last time.
A giant image of McCoy was projected onto the iconic Royal Liver Building in Liverpool, the home city of the festival, on Wednesday evening.
The projection was accompanied by the words “the greatest jockey” and “the greatest race”.
What a great tribute from @GBRacing for @AP_McCoy's last race in the Grand National! #GoodLuckAP pic.twitter.com/KeMOhavycY
— Michael Owen (@themichaelowen) April 9, 2015
The 40-year-old jockey rides Shutthefrontdoor in the Grand National and at 7-1, McCoy could cost bookies millions if he wins the race for only his second time.
“We’ve seen an estimate that if AP wins the National it will cost the industry across the UK and Ireland £30m [over €41m]. We feel that figure is definitely on the low side as he is the one jockey ‘once-a-year punters’ have even heard of,” said the Paddy Power spokesperson.
“Also his last ride in the world’s most famous steeplechase is generating incredible publicity which can only fuel the gamble. A more realistic figure is probably up to £50m.”
Yesterday was the turn of the ladies to strut their stuff at the famous Liverpool course but this year organisers launched a crackdown on photographers taking unflattering pictures of the Ladies Day racegoers.
Speaking ahead of the festival, Aintree racecourse chief John Baker told the Liverpool Echo that any photographers taking pictures of women in “unflattering poses” would have their accreditation revoked.
“We want to overwhelm the negativity, to push the positivity to the front. Our event is full of character, it’s fun, and that’s generated by the personality of the Liverpool people,” he said.
Final declarations made for the Grand National, latest odds: http://t.co/uTgfEWQjuE pic.twitter.com/3qRsAjS9IL
— Paddy Power Offers (@PPOffers) April 9, 2015
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