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McCoy in race for top prize

Thursday, 15 July 2010

Tony McCoy has become the bookie’s favourite to lift this year’s BBC Sports Personality of the Year award.

WILLIAM Hill have named Moneyglass jockey Tony McCoy as favourite to be crowned the 2010 BBC Sports Personality of the Year.
The odds were shortened from 7-2 to 2-1 on the 36-year-old after tennis player Andy Murray's defeat to Rafael Nadal at Wimbledon.
McCoy is a strong contender for the prestigious prize after winning this year's Grand National on Don't Push It at the 15th attempt.
The next day, he was fined £60 and awarded three penalty points for talking on his mobile to his mother while driving.
Having recorded his first win at age 17 in 1992, he has now ridden over 3,000 winners and been named British jump racing Champion Jockey every year since 1995/6.
Apart from the Grand National, his long list of successes include the Cheltenham Gold Cup, Champion Hurdle, Queen Mother Champion Chase, King George VI Chase.
William Hill spokesman, Tony Kenny said: "If Tony McCoy is ever going to win the award, then this looks like the year.
“All the other contenders seem to be doing their best to hand the award to AP and it'll take a big performance from one of Britain's sporting icons to wrestle the favourite's tag from the 15-time champion jockey."
Andy Murray, who was heavily backed to win the BBC award, is now the 7-1 second favourite for the gong, whilst US Open winning golfer, Graeme McDowell is the 8-1 third favourite.
Other contenders include Lewis Hamilton (10-1), Jenson Butten (16-1) and Phil 'The Power' Taylor (16-1).
England Striker Wayne Rooney is now a 66-1 shot for the award following England's dismal performance in the World Cup.
Tony Kenny added: "Graeme McDowell is obviously a big contender from Northern Ireland, but the US open didn't actually finish until around 1am, so you'd have to wonder how many people actually watched the climax of the event."

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