The National Hunt Jockeys’ Championship rewards the rider with the most winners in the British jumps season.
National Hunt Jockeys’ Championship: The Race to be Champ 2024/2025
The Jockeys’ Championship ends at Sandown each season in late April, with a big finale meeting that follows the major spring festivals at Cheltenham and Aintree.
National Hunt Jockeys’ Championship: Format
The Jump Jockeys’ Championship is decided on winners in National Hunt races from Saturday 4th May 2024 through until Saturday 26th April 2025. All winners are equal in the race to win the title, regardless of race type, status or prize money and the jockey with the highest tally is crowned champion.
National Hunt Jockeys’ Championship: History
The Jump Jockeys’ Championship has been around since the 1969/70 season when Bob Davies was crowned champion. Jonjo O’Neill Snr and John Francome were amongst the early winners, with the latter going on to become champion jockey seven times including five-in-a-row from 1980/81 until 1984/85 – one of which was shared with Peter Scudamore. Scudamore went on to land the title seven years in succession from 1985/86 as he dominated the jumps scene, while Richard Dunwoody enjoyed a hat-trick of titles from 1992/93 onwards.
National Hunt Jockeys’ Championship: AP Dominance
Then came an era of utter domination the likes of which we may never see again as AP McCoy won the Jump Jockeys’ Championship an incredible 20 years in a row, two decades of success that lasted until he finally retired at the end of the 2014/15 campaign. McCoy’s insatiable desire for winners made him a different breed and his feats are unlikely to be repeated, with his best ever tally seeing him reach 289 winners in one season in 2001/02, beating Sir Gordon Richards’ long-standing record of 269 winners set in 1947.
For much of McCoy’s career Richard Johnson was his main rival and it was fitting that he went on to become champion four years on the trot when AP retired. Since then, Brian Hughes (2019/20, 2021/22, 2022/23), Harry Skelton (2020/21) and Harry Cobden (2023/24) have all been crowned champion jockey.
National Hunt Jockeys’ Championship: Current Season
Harry Cobden was crowned champion last time out after a thrilling battle with Sean Bowen. The pair are good friends away from the racecourse and their willingness to engage during the exciting title-chase made for good publicity for the sport. This time around, it is Bowen who is making a solid charge to win his first jockeys’ championship. By the start of December, Bowen had closed right in on a century of winners, with Harry Skelton his nearest pursuer also over the 90-mark.
National Hunt Jockeys’ Championship: Biggest Dangers
Behind them, it’s a gap back to Sam Twiston-Davies, while Gavin Sheehan and Cobden are the only other pair to get beyond a half-century. Trainer Olly Murphy is hoping to push Bowen to a first title this season and they both set records in November, with the rider enjoying 30 winners – five more than his 25 winners in July last year – for a monthly personal best.
Bowen appeared to be running away with the title last season before a knee injury, picked up in a fall at Aintree on Boxing Day, opened the door for his rivals and it was Cobden who chipped away at his lead before winning in the final sprint to the line. Bowen will be keeping his fingers crossed that he remains injury-free this time around as he aims to join some true greats of the jumping game in becoming champion jockey.
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