Grand National Winner Don’t Push It Retired
2010 Grand National winner Don’t Push It has been retired.
Jonjo O’Neill reported that connections had not been happy with the home work of the twelve-year-old and despite what seemed a promising return to the track in a hurdle race in November the decision had been made to call time on Don’t Push It’s racing career.
The JP McManus owned gelding also finished third to Ballabriggs in the 2011 Grand National carrying 11-10 and amassed over three quarters of a million pounds in total career prize money.
He famously gave Denman a scare in their novice chase year running the subsequent Gold Cup winner to three quarters of a length at Cheltenham and he recorded other big wins in the Silver Trophy Hurdle at Chepstow and the John Smiths Handicap Chase at Aintree. In all, he won eight of his twenty-nine races but will most be remembered as the horse that finally broke AP McCoy’s Grand National hoodoo.
A fine horse that deserves a long and happy retirement
This post has 10 comments
#1
January 10th, 2012 14:39
Damn, I thought he was going great for a 12yr old this year, had given him top billing in my first top 6 with the hope he would get less weight and have a chance of winning again, interesting call from Jonjo really. I can’t imagine he has made such an early call without thinking that he is going to run Synchronised and Tony McCoy is really needed by both these horses.
Disappointed, as I really thought DPI looked better than last yr and if fit on the day I expect to see him run close whatever the weight.
Glad he gets to retire, but what can you do with a horse that hates people!? he is going to be left sitting on that hill with his jacob sheep an awful long time.
#2
January 10th, 2012 15:04
Seriously I think this is such an early call, but hey they love this horse so much.
Jonjo quoted as saying
“He’s in great form, and he’s doing everything grand at home, but he’s just not showing us the same old sparkle.”
“We thought we had him right again this year after he ran so well over hurdles at Cheltenham, but he’s now telling us that enough is enough.”
McCoy, currently sidelined with a rib injury, added on At The Races: “The last thing we wanted was for something to happen to him, so the decision was pretty easy to make.
“Jonjo and JP were obviously very keen to make sure he retired in one piece.
“He’s emotionally too valuable for something to have happened to him.
“He gave his all. He gave me the greatest day of my racing life – I always wanted to win the Grand National.
“I will always be indebted to Don’t Push It.”
Tony has definately gone soft… ah!
will spend his retirement at owner JP McManus’ Martinstown Stud in County Limerick,… shame he is gelded cause he would be a great sire, but I hope he likes it and can take his sheepy pals 
He – DPI
#3
January 10th, 2012 21:36
This is right out of the blue. : 0 :O
Made my six because his hurdle race seemed satisfactory to me, but then they say he wasn’t firing at home on the gallops.
In the end it’s probably the right decision so happy retirement DPI.
#4
January 10th, 2012 21:46
It seems right and proper that you’re first up here KJ.
To paraphrase Lenny Godber, ‘Hardy Kruger – The One That Got Away’ ….
#117
crisp 73
November 15th, 2009 15:34
Don’t Push It – (I’m presuming he has a left handed RPR 141 or more) also has 100% GN trends, only lacking a ‘key race’? Again his dosage on post 1989 trends appears to be a bit top heavy in speed. I thought he ran/jumped well yesterday taking on board it was a fact finding mission to see whether he would stay and in quite testing circumstances. Got the scalp of a few ‘National’ winners and gave the winner 25lbs.
………..
he had Hello Bud, Russian Trigger, Chelsea Harbour and Lacdoudal, all winners of top races at 28f+, behind him that day in the mud at Cheltenham over 28f and giving weight to the lot of them.
What a horse. Maybe the classiest winner of recent times, carrying OR153/11-5 to victory.
#5
January 11th, 2012 16:09
Thanks Crisp- we shoulda had him, he had serious credentials I just don’t see in the new kids this yr!
Admin
Hope this posts, I’m having problems getting posts posted! and had same problem at the weekend. If I try again, says I’ve said that, but never appears.
#6
January 11th, 2012 16:11
and I’m back in the room!?!
can’t repost now giant rambling post I did earlier on countdown to april thread however,….
#7
January 12th, 2012 13:08
ADMIN- again! just now, tried to post on countdown to april general GN thread,…. nothing! then if tried again says ‘duplicate detected’ Minnehomma said he has had the same problem sometimes, so something is wrong. Hope this posts
#8
January 12th, 2012 13:16
So I can post here but not there Admin Darren!
tried again…. you got wormholes in your website!
Sorry to steal Don’t Push Its retirement page,… but few people as usual seem to care enough to bother saying a few words about a great national horse anyway,… punters ey
See you all soon hopefully, keep up the good work, I can see you
#9
January 12th, 2012 22:40
I care about Don’t Push It, even though I missed him on his national win, the clues was there. Felt a win above 11 stone perfectly plausible his year, I just came to wrong horse. I think I’d picked Black Apalachi and last year was Oscar Time.
Damn I think I’ve got Grand National seconditis.(if that’s spelt correctly [I doubt it
] 
)
Could it be your router or broadband supplier.
#10
January 15th, 2012 11:45
KJ – Apologies for the delay – is this still happening? Please let me know if you are still having problems
Darren
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