McCoy Set for Title 19

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AP McCoy will become champion jump jockey for the 19th successive year at Sandown on Saturday.

McCoy, who is 40 next month, rode more than 200 winners this season despite missing the start through injury.

The record-breaking Northern Irishman was hurt in a fall at Cheltenham in April 2013 which left him in intensive care.

In November, he passed the mark of 4,000 career wins with victory on Mountain Tunes at Towcester.

His triumphs in the 2013-14 season, which ends at the Surrey track on Saturday, have come at a winning strike rate of 24%.

McCoy finished more than 60 wins ahead of nearest rival Richard Johnson, who has never been champion and is runner-up for the 15th time.

"You start off at the beginning of the season and the goal is to be champion, and I've been lucky enough to achieve it 19 times," McCoy told 5 live. "I'd like to achieve it again next season if possible."

Fellow jockey Sam Twiston-Davies told 5 live: "We all look up to him massively. He's the most amazing man and we're all very lucky to be riding in the same era as him."

Paul Struthers, chief executive of the Professional Jockeys' Association, said: "What can one say about AP McCoy? He is simply a phenomenon.

"Who would have predicted almost two decades ago when he became champion jump jockey for the first time that he would not relinquish the title for almost 20 years? And he is still going strong in his 40th year and will soon be aiming for title number 20 in 2014/15.

"As well as being the greatest jump jockey in history, he is also a terrific gentleman and a true ambassador for our sport."

Paul Nicholls will be champion trainer for the eighth time, after beating last year's winner Nicky Henderson.

Gavin Sheehan will receive the annual award as champion conditional jockey.

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So It's Not What You Think at Sandown

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Pre-race favourite So You Think is to miss the Coral-Eclipse Stakes at Sandown on Saturday.

The 2011 winner, trained by Aidan O'Brien, was found to be lame in his stable on Thursday.

It was due to be So You Think's final run before being retired to stud in his native Australia.

The trainer's wife Anne-Marie said on Twitter: "So You Think was found to be lame in his stable a short time ago and will not run in the Eclipse."

So You Think, who beat Workforce in a thrilling finish to win the Coral-Eclipse last year, had been in outstanding form this season.

He won the Tattersalls Gold Cup at the Curragh and then denied the Queen's horse Carlton House to win the Prince of Wales's Stakes at Royal Ascot.

Saturday's Coral-Eclipse, which has attracted 10 runners, sees the return to the track of Dante Stakes scorer Bonfire, who was disappointing in the Epsom Derby, and Godolphin's Dubai World Cup winner Monterosso.

Timely Jubilee Win for Carlton House

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Carlton House, owned by the Queen, has made a winning return to the track with victory in the Brigadier Gerard Stakes on the eve of Diamond Jubilee weekend.

The 10-11 favourite was third in last year's Derby before finishing fourth in his last run in the 2011 Irish Derby.

"That was only his sixth race so you'd like to think he'll keep on improving," said jockey Ryan Moore after a comfortable victory at Sandown.

Sagramor (25-1) finished strongly for second ahead of Hunter's Light (13-2).

“He got the gap and went through it, he always tries his hardest”Jockey Ryan Moore

Carlton House, who was favourite for last year's Derby, took a while to get going as I'm A Dreamer came through to lead two furlongs out, closely followed by Hunter's Light.

But as the field swept into the final furlong, the Queen's horse found a gap between the two leaders and pushed on to win by a length and three-quarters.

Moore added: "I was very happy with him. He was fresh early but they weren't going quick.

"He got the gap and went through it. He always tries his hardest."

Trainer Sir Michael Stoute said: "I didn't feel too much pressure coming into this evening. I came here hopeful.

"They weren't serious problems last year, but they were enough to prevent him from racing.

"It was pretty hard to prepare him for a Derby when his foot was in an ice bucket morning, noon and night.

"He was very fresh today. When he went through the gap he filled up again as it wasn't a strong gallop.

"We'll go for the Prince of Wales's [at Royal Ascot] next and take it one step at a time."

Paintball Right Charlie at Sandown

Paintball handed trainer Charlie Longsdon the biggest win of his career in the Imperial Cup in Saturday's feature race at Sandown.

Paintball, who underwent a breathing operation in December, sprinted clear to win by four and a half lengths.

The winner will earn a further £75,000 bonus from a sponsor if he wins a race at next week's Cheltenham Festival.

The heavily backed favourite Ted Spread, trained by Paul Nicholls, failed to finish in the top four.

After creeping along in mid-division for jockey Noel Fehily, Paintball ran clear of long-time leader Nampour who finished second ahead of Sire De Grugy.

Longsdon said of his Irish-bred 20-1 shot: "He wasn't finishing off his races this season so we gave him the breathing operation.

"We've had plenty of winners but we haven't had the big Saturday winners yet. This tops it off."

Longsdon is aiming to enter Paintball in the County Hurdle at Cheltenham.