Of course he trained the winner in 2010 ridden by Tony McCoy.

Black Apalachi was prominent throughout but McCoy was always stalking him on the second circuit. As they jumped the last together, McCoy galvanised his mount to take up the running before the Elbow and the relief the record-breaking rider showed immediately afterwards was immense.

An almighty gamble in the minutes before the four-and-a-half-mile marathon saw the Jonjo O’Neill-trained Don’t Push It sent off the 10-1 joint-favourite along with Big Fella Thanks, with the latter ridden by Barry Geraghty in the absence of the injured Ruby Walsh.

Geraghty was another still going well approaching the second-last, along with 17-year-old Sam Twiston-Davies on Hello Bud.

But Black Apalachi and Don’t Push It pulled clear and it was McCoy who took the plaudits as he won by five lengths.

State Of Play went one better than last year to stay on for third, with Big Fella Thanks fourth and Hello Bud fifth.

Legendary owner-gambler JP McManus had been trying to win the Aintree spectacular for years but his ambition finally came true.

Nina Carberry, attempting to become the first woman to win the race on Character Building, had a great spin round to finish seventh with Snowy Morning sixth to add to his good record in the race.

Last year’s winner Mon Mome still appeared to be going well when he fell at the 26th fence.

A tearful McCoy said: “I’m being a big wuss. It means everything to me to win the Grand National.

“I’ve won lots of big races and I’m supposed to be a good jockey, but to not win the Grand National would be a bit of a negative on the CV.

“I’m delighted for my mum and dad as they’ve been great for me throughout the years, and for my wife Chanelle and my daughter Eve, who is two and a half.

“Hopefully now she’ll be proud of me when she grows up.”

McCoy Grand National Choices

The 14-times champion had been considered likely to partner Can’t Buy Time in next Saturday’s Aintree feature, but current ground conditions have forced a rethink.

Don’t Push It and Can’t Buy Time are both trained by Jonjo O’Neill and owned by JP McManus.

“There’s no pressure to make a final decision until nearer the time, but having originally been pencilled in for Can’t Buy Time, I now find myself leaning towards Don’t Push It,” McCoy told the Daily Telegraph.

“You can forgive Can’t Buy Time his run in the race last year – he eventually fell at the 18th – because he went there on the back of a hard race in the four-mile chase at Cheltenham, but there is a slight question mark about his stamina and he definitely wouldn’t want the ground too soft. To my mind, Don’t Push It has a bit of class and ability, and he’d be fine on that ground. That is my thinking at the moment, and I reserve the right to change my mind several more times!”

The news that Tony McCoy will partner either Don’t Push It or Can’t Buy Time has provoked strong money for the younger of the Jonjo O’Neill-trained pair – with Can’t Buy Time cut to 16-1 from 25-1 with William Hill this morning.

Tony McCoy Grand National 2010

Last seen out finishing sixth behind 7-1 Grand National favourite Big Fella Thanks – Can’t buy Time raced in last year’s National renewal – parting company with Noel Fehilly at the start of the second circuit.

It will be a fifteenth attempt Grand National ride for National Hunt Racing’s greatest ever jockey – who is still pursuing an elusive first win in the famous handicap.

Kate Miller, spokeswoman for William Hill, said: ‘’Logic and money suggests that AP will err towards Can’t Buy Time as his National mount – but  he does not immediately spring as an obvious candidate to break McCoy’s run of bad luck in the race.’’

Others to attract money in recent days include Arbour Supreme – now 14-1 from 25-1 five days ago – Whinstone Boy – whose soft-ground credentials have induced support, and Irish raiders Black Apalachi (14-1 from 16-1), and Snowy Morning (20-1 from 25-1).
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John Smith’s Grand National: 7-1 Big Fella Thanks, 12-1 Mon Mome, 14-1 Arbor Supreme (from 16-1), Black Apalachi (from 16-1), Tricky Trickster, 16-1 Backstage, Niche Market, The Package,  Vic Venturi,  20-1 Can’t Buy Time (from 25-1), Snowy Morning(from 25-1), State Of Play, 25-1 Ballyholland, Character Building, Comply or Die, Chief Dan George, 40-1 Don’t Push It, Irish Raptor, Maljimar, My Will, Whinstone Boy, 50-1 Ballytrim, Cloudy Lane, Dream Alliance, Eric’s Charm, Galant Nuit, Hello Bud, King Johns Castle, Offshore Account, Palypso De Creek, Razor Royale, 66-1 bar (EW 1/4 1,2,3,4)

McCoy’s boss, leading owner JP McManus, has four entries for the world’s most famous race in King Johns Castle, Don’t Push It, Arbor Supreme and Can’t Buy Time.

The Willie Mullins-trained Arbor Supreme is the shortest of the quartet in the betting but at this stage, he is set to be ridden by Paul Townend.

McManus’ racing manager Frank Berry said: “Paul Townend is probably going to ride Arbor Supreme and we’re not certain yet whether AP will ride Don’t Push It or Can’t Buy Time.

“Nothing is written in stone yet, but I think Tony will ride one of Jonjo’s (O’Neill) horses.

“It is a while away yet so nothing is certain but at this stage, it’s more than likely Tony will ride Can’t Buy Time.”

Speaking on his Facebook page, Mullins said: “Paul Townend is going to ride Arbor Supreme in the Grand National.”