WHY A.P. IS THE BEST WE HAVE SEEN ...

THERE have been a number of jockeys — both in the modern era and in the dim and distant past — who have broken records and captured hearts. However, in a sport where only the bravest of the brave thrive, A.P. has proved himself king of them all.

1 A.P. MCCOY

QUITE simply a winning-machine phenomenon. By shattering almost every record in the book and bringing new levels of physical endurance and blinkered dedication, he has changed the world of jump racing.

2 LESTER PIGGOTT

ALOOF tactical maestro who became a household name because of his ruthless winning streak and amazing big-race record. A sportsman who can genuinely be called a genius.

3 SIR GORDON RICHARDS

CHAMPION Flat jockey 26 times and the only jockey to be knighted. McCoy may have ridden more winners than him during a season but his 4,870 career winners are even out of the reach of our modern-day champion.

4 JOHN FRANCOME

THE seven-time champion jump jockey and the best I ever rode against. A true artist in the saddle, no rider I have seen has ever been better at getting his mounts to jump.

5 RUBY WALSH

CAN’T match McCoy for numbers but can outstrip him with his big-race victories. A modern-day Francome and there will be plenty who argue he is as good, if not better, than McCoy.

6 FRED ARCHER

SPORTING legend of the Victorian era. Once described as ‘the best all-round jockey ever seen’ and his figures go some way to justifying that. Won 13 championships and rode 2,748 winners.

7 STEVE CAUTHEN

ANOTHER mould-breaker. The ‘Kentucky Kid’ won three championships and two Derbies — Slip Anchor (1985) and Reference Point (1987) — but his fusion of American and British styles changed Flat racing.

8 STEVE DONOGHUE

CHAMPION Flat jockey 10 times between 1914 and 1923 and a six-time winner of the Derby. A fair reputation was allied to a ruthless streak, ditching mounts if a better opportunity arose.

9 FRED WINTER

A RACING legend who followed four jump jockey championships by being champion trainer eight times. Limpet-like in the saddle, hard as nails, no contemporary could match his strength in a finish.

10 FRED REES

CHAMPION jockey five times between the two world wars and the first to top a century during a season with 108 in 1924 during an era when lack of health and safety meant only the ultra brave could be a top jump jockey.