Mick Fitzgerald

Date of birth: 10 May 1970 Place of birth: Co Cork 2002-03 wins: 77 2001-02 wins: 109 2000-01 wins: 78 1999-00 wins: 107 Main trainer: Nicky Henderson

An articulate and witty figure, Fitzgerald also displays a lot of intelligence in his race-riding.

He travelled to England at the age of 18 and has gradually established himself as one of National Hunt's leading jockeys.

A retainer with the prolific Lambourn trainer Nicky Henderson since 1992 has reaped rich reward.

Fitzgerald, a good friend of champion jockey Tony McCoy, also appears popular with the royals, for whom he often carries the colours for Henderson.

And a second partnership, with Paul Nicholls, brought him Cheltenham Gold Cup glory in 1999 aboard See More Business.

He also won the Queen Mother Champion Chase that year and finished as leading Festival jockey with four winners, a feat he repeated 12 months later.

Also prominent on the Fitzgerald CV is his victory on Rough Quest in the 1996 Grand National and a five-timer at Newbury in 2003.

In October, 2003, he became only the ninth jump jockey to ride 1,000 winners.