Champion jockey Tony McCoy is a rider who is driven by the sheer will to win.

The Ulsterman has taken a grip on the sport, clocking up six consecutive riders' titles.

And this year, with the championship in the bag, he has been chasing one of racing's legendary landmarks, Sir Gordon Richards' record of 269 winners in a season.

He was hopeful of reaching that mark at the Festival, but he was blighted by misfortune - four seconds and the tragedy of Valiramix being put down.

McCoy finally won in the penultimate race of the meeting.

The 28-year-old McCoy, known popularly by his initials AP (Anthony Peter), has built up an army of fans who know he will be trying every inch of the way.

He has wasted away to make the low weights on some rides, starving himself down to 10st when his natural weight is about a stone-and-a-half more.

McCoy's partnership with Martin Pipe has seen two like minds chasing glory together.

But the jockey also picks up plenty of leading spare mounts when not required by his retaining trainer.

The brilliant ride he gave Edredon Bleu to take the Queen Mother Champion Chase in a neck-and-neck finish at the 2000 Festival will live long in the memory.

He was top Festival rider in 1997 and 1998, the latter when he won five of the 20 races.

His Festival haul also includes a Gold Cup/Champion Hurdle double in 1997 with Mr Mulligan and Make A Stand.