Jonjo O’Neill: ‘I didn’t think that it would ever happen’
Having tried for so long as both a jockey and a trainer to win the Grand National, Jonjo O’Neill had had plenty of time to compose his victory speech. But when the big moment finally came all he could say at first was: “I’m lost for words.
“It’s fantastic and I thought that it would never happen to me. I am delighted that it has happened and I am delighted for AP [McCoy], for JP [McManus], and all of lads. It’s brilliant.”
O’Neill was also quick to place the spotlight on a member of his stable staff whom the trainer believed deserves to be credited for his part in the success of Don’t Push It winning the Grand National. "Alan Berry does everything with this horse,” O’Neill said. “The horse lives out in a field, with half a dozen Jacobs sheep, and Alan does everything with him. I don’t even go near him, so it's all down to him.
"I didn’t really believe we would win until we passed the post I didn’t think that it would ever happen."
O’Neill never got round in seven attempts in the National as a jockey. "I walked the track with the kids this morning and said to them that I’d had seven goes as a jockey but when we got to the Canal Turn I said that that was where we stopped because I didn’t know what happened after that, I never got any further.
"I just thought we were destined never to win the National. I just hoped they’d get back safe and sound,” O’Neill admitted, adding that his view from the grandstand was even harder than the days when he had watched the field stream past after yet another fall. "That was harder than riding. It’ll take a bit of sinking in but it was fantastic. He just had a good position all the way and seemed to be jumping all the way.
“At the Canal Turn I thought that Big Fella Thanks was going best but that we’d be placed and I’d have been happy with that but he picked up again.
"AP knew the horses well and he was on the better of the two on form and I thought this one had the better chance of getting the trip, which he did.
"The parade was going to be a big thing with this fellow and I saddled him in the stables and put ear plugs in. I did the whole lot and didn’t think it would work out but it did.”
Jonjo O’Neill’s Grand National record: 2003 Carbury Cross (7th); 2004 Clan Royal (2nd), Joss Naylor (pulled up before 19th); 2005 Simply Gifted (3rd), Shamawan (21st), Native Emperor (unseated rider 9th), Clan Royal (carried out before 22nd); 2006 Clan Royal (3rd), Risk Accessor (5th); 2007 Clan Royal (11th); 2008 Bob Hall (pulled up before 19th), Butler’s Cabin (fell 22nd); 2009 Butler’s Cabin (7th), Reveillez (brought down 3rd), Can’t Buy Time (fell 18th); 2009 DON’T PUSH IT (1st), Can’t Buy Time (unseated rider 8th).
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