PICTURES: Sky high tribute to Tony McCoy in Liverpool ahead of Aintree Grand National

Thu, 09 Apr, 2015 - 11:15

Grainne McGuinness

A giant image of jockey Tony McCoy was projected onto the iconic Royal Liver building in Liverpool last night - the home city of the Aintree Festival.

The 40-year-old, who has been Champion Jockey a record 19 times during his career, rides Shutthefrontdoor in the Grand National on Saturday afternoon, in what will be his 20th and final appearance at the festival.

AINTREE A special tribute was paid to Tony McCoy last night ahead of his record 20th & final #GrandNational pic.twitter.com/GF9BIGK83k
— Hits Radio News | Liverpool & North West (@HitsLpoolNews) April 9, 2015

McCoy, who announced in February that he would retire at the end of this season, won the Grand National in his 15th attempt in 2010 - riding Don’t Push It.

During his career he has won almost every prestigious race in the UK and Irish calendars including the Cheltenham Gold Cup, Champion Hurdle, Queen Mother Champion Chase, King George VI Chase, Irish Grand National, Lexus Chase and Galway Plate.

The tribute isn’t the first paid to McCoy - organisers of the Cheltenham Festival also bid farewell to the Antrim jockey when he raced there for the last time in March.