Samantha Parker reports on a sporting triumph for Merseyside

BOOKMAKERS were left £10m out of pocket after jockey Tony McCoy on favourite Don’t Push It romped to victory in the Grand National – the first time he has won the steeplechase.

It was McCoy’s 15th attempt at the national, a race he said he always knew he would win one day, and punters put their faith in the Champion jockey.

David Williams of Ladbrokes said: “McCoy's victory has cost us millions.

“We've feared this day for 15 years and our worst nightmares have just been realised. Punters never lost faith in the champ.

“What a difference a year makes. When Mon Mome won at 100-1 the bookies kept all the cash and we celebrated for months.

“Now we'll be paying the punters out for months to come. It's the worst result for us in ages and all we can do is grit our teeth and salute the champ.”

McCoy was clearly delighted at his win as he broke down in tears as he crossed the winning post after finally conquering the demanding four-and-a-half mile course to the delight of the packed crowds.

Afterwards he said: “I have won lots of great races but I am supposed to be a great rider and to not have won it was a big gap in the CV.

“To win the Grand National is everything. I’m the biggest dreamer in the world. I thought after a mile I had the race in the bag.

“It’s the biggest racing event in the world, and this is one of the biggest sporting events in the world.

“Everyone on the street knows the National as it is a people's race and from a jockey's perspective that is why it is important.”

Punters piled the cash on Don’t Push It at 20/1 in the hours leading up to the race, leading to bookmakers slashing the odds to make the horse joint favourite at 10/1 by the time the steeplechase got under way.

William Hill estimated around 10% of all Grand National bets were wagered on McCoy around the 30 National fences.

David Hood, spokesman for the bookmakers, said: “It is a black-armband day for the betting industry.

“Time and time again, McCoy heaps misery on the bookmakers, and this time he has done it on the biggest stage.”

Footballers and “wags” turned out in force at the premier event in Merseyside’s social calendar.

Liverpool footballers Fernando Torres, Pepe Reina and Glen Johnson were spotted in the crowds, as well as Anfield legend Kenny Dalglish and Steven Gerrard’s wife, Alex Curran.

Bolton comedian Peter Kay presented the winner’s trophy to McCoy.

The huge crowds at Aintree enjoyed warm and balmy weather. A spokesman for Meteogroup said temperatures reached above 18°C.

He said: “It’s well above the average temperatures for this time of year. It has been a dry day, without much breeze.”

Aintree racecourse managing director Julian Thick said the weather had a lot to do with attendance figures being up on last year.

Over the three days 150,426 punters went through the turnstiles compared with 146,070.

He told the Daily Post: “Most of our enclosures for Saturday had been sold out for weeks when the weather was dreadful. However, the sun coming out will have certainly helped shift the last few.

“There was an amazing atmosphere at the course on all three days and what a fantastic result in the National itself.