AP McCoy retires: Key timings, TV coverage as Champion Jockey bows out at sold-out Sandown
This is it. No ifs or buts or maybes this time – win or lose, Tony McCoy will be retiring after his two rides at Sandown’s jumps season finale today, bowing out as champion jockey for the 20th year in a row and taking the silver trophy home for keeps.
First he will ride Mr Mole in the A P McCoy Celebration Chase, the race named in his honour, and then take his final curtain call in the handicap hurdle on the appropriately named Box Office, in front of a sell-out 18,000 crowd.
In order to broadcast McCoy’s final race, Channel 4 have extended their live terrestrial coverage of the historic day by half an hour and will be on air from 1.25pm to 4.50pm.
The key timings:
• 11am: Gates open
• 12.50pm: Parade of horses including Grand National winning horse, Many Clouds and Gold Cup hero, Coneygree
• From 1pm: Annual Jumps Award Presentations in the Parade ring including:
o Horse of the Year
o Sandown Park Special Award to AP McCoy
o Champion Owner
o Champion Trainer
• 2pm: 1st race bet365 Juvenile Handicap Hurdle
• 2.50pm: Champion Jockey Trophy presentation to AP McCoy
• 3.15pm: 3rd race bet365 A P McCoy Celebration Chase – McCoy is set to ride Mr Mole, the horse on which he announced his retirement back in February.
• 3.50pm: 4th race bet365 Gold Cup Chase
• 4.25pm: 5th race bet365 Handicap Hurdle – McCoy’s final race aboard Jonjo O’Neill trained and JP McManus owned Box Office.
• 5:45pm: End of Season after-party
