Sunday 24 April 2011

Sweet 16 For AP


Tony McCoy's ambitions remain unchanged after he was crowned champion National Hunt jockey for the 16th consecutive year at Sandown's final meeting of the season.

The winning-most jumps rider of all time and the BBC Sports Personality Of The Year again finished ahead of his perennial rival Richard Johnson.

"The goal is always the same. As much as you enjoy winning and everything that comes with it, it's not about what you have done in the past but what you do in the future," he said before receiving his prize from Olympic gold medal-winning heptathlete Denise Lewis.

"The ambition is always about being champion jockey, but everyone else wants to be too. I'm very lucky to be involved in the sport and it has been hard going for a few of the lads, like Peter Toole. We've all had bad falls, but you just hope it doesn't happen.

"Now it's the worst day as you go back to zero. I've got a few days of Fairyhouse before I start again here."


Paul Nicholls was crowned champion trainer for the sixth time in a row, fending off a sustained challenge from Nicky Henderson.

He said: "It's great to do it again and if it wasn't for the team around me, I wouldn't be here. You never set out to be champion trainer, but you look to win the big races and hopefully that gets you there.

"It's been an up-and-down year with the winter and with the injury to Ruby (Walsh), but lots of the horses came good in the spring, and a few surprises like Zarkandar.

"Hopefully I'll have a good squad to fend off Nicky again. Big Buck's (who was voted Horse of the Year) has won 12 hurdles on the bounce and we'll look forward to him again next season."

Nearly all of the top equine stars were on parade including the Grand National and Gold Cup winners, Ballabriggs and Long Run, and the former's owner Trevor Hemmings collected the champion owner title and also the Sandown Park special award.