AP McCoy tries his hand at dressage

AP McCoy has had to forget everything he learnt during his career as 20-times champion jump jockey, in order to master the art of dressage.

‘Good experience’

Under the tutelage of Charlotte Dujardin, AP performed flying changes, piaffe, passage and extended trot in front of a packed house at Cheltenham Racecourse during its Open Meeting (13-15 November).

“It’s a different way of riding to everything I was taught – everything you do as a jockey you wouldn’t do as a dressage rider,” said the 41-year-old. “It was a good experience and I’m very lucky to have someone like Charlotte to show me what to do.”

AP also had help in the guise of Barolo, who won the Grand Prix Freestyle British Dressage National Championship with Charlotte earlier this year.

‘So proud’

“I’m so, so proud of AP, he did an incredible job,” said Charlotte. “He’s spent his life out of the saddle, it’s a completely different way of riding.

“Two days ago he couldn’t turn and he did so fantastically today, mastering some piaffe and passage. We both really had fun.”

Charlotte rode alongside AP on Carl Hester’s former Grand Prix ride Pro-Set, while commentary was provided by Yogi Breisner, the Team GBR eventing performance manager.

“I don’t think AP has cantered this slowly in his life before!” joked Yogi.

Countryside Day

The dressage demo was part of the Countryside Day at Cheltenham to raise money for the Countryside Alliance and the British Equestrian Federation, ahead of the 2016 Rio Olympics.

Also in attendance were Tina Cook, Izzy Taylor and 2015 European team silver medallist Kitty King who joined the Cotswold Hunt in the Hound Parade, which welcomed 23 registered packs from across Britain.

Another popular event with the crowd was the Thoroughbred Breeders’ Association (TBA) stallion parade, with nine stunning National Hunt stallions taking part. These included Melbourne Cup winner Dunaden and this season’s Coronation Cup victor Pether’s Moon.

Winners

The racecourse saw a record attendance of 73,752 across the three-day meeting.

The fixture also saw the opening of a brand new grandstand, which ispart of a £45 million redevelopment at Cheltenham. It was officially opened by HRH Princess Royal.

The feature race of the meeting, the Paddy Power Gold Cup, was won by 12/1 shot Annacotty, ridden by Ian Popham and trained by Alan King.

Jockey Nina Carberry had a double of wins on the opening day, winning the Glenfarclas Cross Country Chase on Josies Orders, and theCheltenham Club Amateur Riders’ Handicap Chase with Knock House.

The meeting was also the scene of a triumphant return to form of Sprinter Sacre. The nine-year-old gelding won the Grade 2 Shloer Chase on Sunday.