AP McCoy leads his team to victory at Barbury

AP McCoy may have retired from racing, but the champion jockey proved he hasn’t lost his competitive streak leading his team to victory in the JCB Champions Challenge at Barbury.

Formidable team

AP got back in the saddle to race against the biggest names in eventing and help raise money for the Injured Jockeys Fund (IJF) in the process.

Joining the 41-year-old was Richard Johnson, who is the second-most successful jump jockey in history after AP, plus 22-year-old Sam Twiston-Davies and Wayne Hutchinson, who is stable jockey to Barbury-based trainer Alan King.

They took on a formidable eventing team comprised four-times Barbury CIC3* winner Andrew Nicholson, Mark Todd, Tina Cook and Harry Meade.

Great to be back

AP took an early lead over Andrew and the final leg saw Richard and Harry battle it out for the title. A stewards’ enquiry was called after both riders crossed each other’s tracks in the water obstacle, but the jump jockeys were crowned the winners.

“Thank you to the eventers and hunts for taking part as its in aid of the IJF, which is a really important organisation for horseracing and beyond,” said AP. “It felt great to be back in the saddle and today was something a bit different, and at least we won!”