AP McCoy delighted to see Richard Johnson take champion jockey crown

Tony McCoy is delighted that close friend and former rival Richard Johnson will officially succeed him as champion jockey at Sandown on Saturday.

McCoy won the title for 20 successive years prior to an emotional farewell at the Esher venue a year ago and for 15 of those seasons Johnson was runner-up.

The popular rider has certainly made the most of McCoy’s retirement this term, smashing through the 3,000 career-winner mark and riding 200 winners in a season for the first time.

The Ulsterman will be on hand to present Johnson with his maiden championship trophy on the final day of the campaign.

McCoy said: “As far as I was concerned, the day I left Sandown last year I was no longer champion jockey. I was always going to have to hand it over to someone, and I’m delighted it’s going to be Richard as he deserves it more than anyone.

“On a professional level I probably know him better than anyone. He’s a brilliant man to be around, a fantastic jockey and unbelievably competitive.

“He also has a great work ethic and is the fairest jockey you could ever ride against, so he deserves all the rewards he’s getting.

“I’m very pleased for him and Dave Roberts (agent). They have both worked very hard to get here and they’ve earned it.”

McCoy retired with 4,358 total career wins and feels he may not have achieved as much as he did had Johnson not been around to drive him on for two decades.

“It’s always good to have someone pushing you to keep you on your toes. I think Richard definitely made me a better jockey,” he said.

“It’s important Saturday is a great day for Richard and if I could not be seen I would do that as it’s his day.

“I’ll be trying to keep out of the way the best I can, but I feel honoured to be passing the trophy on to him.

“It takes a brave man to become a jockey and the credit is fully deserved.

“However good a jockey you think he is, he’s an even better person.”