BOOKIES FEAR A massive £50 million payout if AP McCoy bows out with a win in Saturday’s Aintree Grand National.
Punters are pinning their hopes of one last payday on the favourite Shutthefrontdoor, McCoy’s mount as he rides in the world’s most famous steeplechase for the final time.
JP McManus’s eight-year-old has been backed in from 16/1 to 7/1 in recent weeks and industry estimates suggest the bookies are facing one of their worst-ever results.
“With over 4,000 winners AP has built a house that will never fall and Saturday’s race will be the last piece of an amazing puzzle when he shuts the front door on an outstanding career,” Betfair spokesman Barry Orr said.
“But an AP victory will not be welcomed by bookies and even though he has been socking it to us for over 20 years, a win on Saturday would be the biggest single loss incurred by the betting industry on one of his winners.”
McCoy has only won the Grand National once, riding another favourite, Don’t Push It, to victory in the iconic McManus green and gold colours in 2010.
If he manages to repeat that trick he will retire on Saturday, brining down the curtain on a career in which he has ridden more than 4,300 winners and will see him crowned champion jockey for an unprecedented 20th time at the end of the season.
