The subject of a huge public gamble, from 20/1 on the morning of the race to 10/1 joint-favourite at the ‘off’, Don’t Push It won the 2010 Grand National, forging clear in the closing stages to beat Black Apalachi by five lengths. His victory in the world-famous steeplechase was a first for owner John McManus, trainer Jonjo O’Neill and, in particular, jockey Tony McCoy. McCoy, who had never finished better than third on 14 previous rides in the Grand National, said afterwards, “I’ve won a few races over the years, but this one is the one that everyone has heard about. It means everything to me.”
A quirky character, Don’t Push Me had been placed in two of his three previous starts over fences in 2009/2010, but pulled up, when tailed off, in the Pertemps Final at the Cheltenham Festival on his most recent outing, having “lost interest”, according to O’Neill. Nevertheless, the 10-year-old was one of just four horses in serious contention turning for home, flew the final fence to take the lead and, once galvanised by McCoy on the run-in, never looked like being beaten.
After four unsuccessful starts over hurdles, including the Pertemp Final once again, in 2010/11, Don’t Push Me and McCoy returned to Aintree for the 2011 Grand National. Raised 7lb in the handicap, and therefore saddled with top weight of 11st 10lb, Don’t Push Me was sent off 9/1 second favourite, behind only 17/2 favourite The Midnight Club, trained by Willie Mullins. He again ran creditably, but could only stay on to finish a modest third behind Ballabriggs.
Don’t Push It ran just once more, when unplaced, under McCoy, in a handicap hurdle at Cheltenham in November 2011. He was retired from racing the following January, having “not really been sparkling”, according to O’Neill, and transferred to Martinstown Stud, County Kildare, which is owned by McManus and has been described as a “holiday camp” for racehorses. At that point, McCoy said, “The last thing we wanted to do was for something to happen to him, so the decision was pretty easy to make.”