A STATUE OF legendary jockey AP McCoy will be unveiled at Cheltenham race course on the opening day of this year’s festival.
The lifesize bronze of the 42-year-old has been crafted by Dublin-based sculptor Paul Ferriter and will be situated on the Best Mate Plaza beside the north entrance of the course.
McCoy retired at the end of the 2014/15 season as one of the most successful jump jockeys of all time, with wins in all the major races, including two Cheltenham Gold Cups, a King George VI Chase, a Grand National, and three Champion Hurdles.
Now a pundit for ITV Racing, McCoy said: ”I last saw Paul’s work about seven weeks’ ago, just before it was about to get bronzed and it look very, very good. I took some videos and showed them to friends who agreed that Paul has really captured my likeness.
“Some of my friends were wondering whether the statue was going to be the old or new me – the 10 stone one or the 12 stone one. Paul has done really well in sculpturing me as a jockey and it was a very enjoyable working with him.
“His dedication to getting it right was really outstanding, from measuring me to videoing me and when I was standing for him.
“I thought most people got a statue when they were dead! I guess it will give the birds somewhere to sit.”
AP McCoy / Twitter
AP McCoy / Twitter / Twitter
The 2017 Cheltenham festival takes place between 14-17 March.
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