ALREADY it seems a long time ago after the long day’s journey into retirement came to the end for A.P. McCoy at Sandown last Saturday.

Having written last week that there was no need to be sad, it was clear as A.P. McCoy came out to ride Mr Mole, that this was indeed going to be emotional.

Racing so often writes its own script and from early on, we had it here. Richard Johnson, for years playing second fiddle to A.P., heading for success in the opener. No McCoy to be seen but what’s this, racing’s new baby-faced assassin, an heir apparent in Sean Bowen, comes to steal his thunder.

The day was excellently chronicled by Channel 4. After all the early criticism of the new-look show, some of it justified, it was still hard to believe that people simply tuned out of Saturday afternoon racing because there was no longer a John Francome or an Alastair Down on the screens.

Though last Saturday was a day like no other, what might have been the issue before was simply the too many cooks syndrome. Nick Luck as professional anchor, Alice Plunkett for a more personal touch, and Jim and Mick for analysis in the booth were sufficient to cover all bases on a day that really needed little input from presenters.

Luck suggesting that the Sherwoods use Many Clouds’ National video for foreplay might have been a little mischevious but the tone was on the money from the start and there was little that could have been improved by the track and the TV crews, and all present.

At times you wanted to say, leave him be, everyone has the right to leave by the back door but it was a special day.

You knew that after Mr Mole’s run there might not be a fairytale ending, and maybe that was by design.

Surely J.P could have found a final day winner if needed, but by taking just two mounts, you felt McCoy was never going to go out on a manufactured winner. If it was good enough, he’d get it there.

Box Office wasn’t up to the job, Jonjo’s comment “After the ride he gave that, he’ll never ride for me again,” added a light moment to the emotional final return.

Apart from a McCoy victory, there could have been none more satisfying than Richard Johnson taking the race, passing the post first, no McCoy ahead, and looking back to see where his biggest rival was.

The emotions from both riders on the return spoke volumes.

It was interesting to see former Olympic medal winning cyclist Victoria Pendleton say, interviewed along with McCoy on the Clare Balding Show last week, that when she retired, she gave all her cycling gear away to make a clean break, and that took two years to feel free from it. If horses are part of your life, in your blood, it’s not so easy to give them away.

For now there is a natural lull. The summer sees the attention drawn to the fast ground, turn of foot, flat stars.

Next autumn, it will take a while for the man and masses who followed him to adjust to the new era. Others may excite but then, one wet and windy afternoon in the bleak mid-winter, you will again invest in a novice hurdler in the green and gold.

When the going gets tough and it comes off the bridle, you will remain calm, look for the shift of the seat, the drive of the arms and wait for the response.

Then, you will remember what you have taken for granted all these years. Hopes will fade as the reality dawns – oh no, it’s not McCoy anymore.