AP will 'never forget' Leopardstown

Tony McCoy's fairytale success on Carlingford Lough in the Hennessy Gold Cup at Leopardstown on Sunday was one that the soon-to-retire rider "will never forget".

A little over 24 hours after he had stunned racing with his retirement announcement following his 200th winner of the season on Mr Mole at Newbury, McCoy was at the Dublin track where he drove the John Kiely-trained Carlingford Lough to an emotionally-charged triumph.

He returned to thunderous applause in the winner's enclosure and was clearly moved by the reception he was afforded.

McCoy tweeted on Monday morning: "Thanks to everyone who was @LeopardstownRC yesterday it made the day very special.

"Walking into winner's enclosure after winning Irish Hennessy was a day I'll miss so much but will never forget #CarlingfordLough."

McCoy also won on the Leopardstown card aboard Sort It Out who, like Carlingford Lough, runs in the colours of his boss JP McManus.

Former Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson has added his tribute to McCoy.

Speaking to the Yorkshire Post, he said: "I am pleased that Tony has picked his moment to decide when it is right for him to retire.

"Only people who have had to live with great expectations can understand why they should go out at the top. That expectation is indescribable, losing was never an option for Tony. Only winning mattered.

"It drove him through injury after injury on the quest to be the best ever. As he approaches the winning post in his career, he goes with the best accolade and that is the success never changed him.

"I believe that only true champions understand the value of humility and that is what stands out in the character of Tony McCoy. He has always kept his feet on the ground; his feats in becoming the greatest National Hunt jockey of all time will be forged on our memory as long as we can all remember. Well done."