'I have no plans to slow down - somebody will have to knock me down first'
Jonathan Harding catches up with the newly crowned champion trainer
Nicky Henderson relished setting the task of finding out whether he was the oldest person to be crowned champion jumps trainer in Britain and was equally delighted when receiving the verdict.
The 69-year-old was unaware of the fact he has held this particular distinction since 2017, when taking over from Fred Rimell, who won the title for a final time in 1976 at the tender age of 62. The overall British record (Flat or jumps) is held by Charles Elsey, who was champion on the Flat for the only time in 1956 at the age of 75.
Confirmation that Henderson had in fact surpassed his own record when claiming his sixth title this month was met with a playful laugh, followed by a declaration that he had no plans to call it a day.
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Copy- 'It's tough financially and last year I said I might get a job driving a lorry instead - although to be fair I'd probably crash!'
- 'I'm not here to tell people how to train but if you hide something from me, I'm gone, I'm done - and you won't see me again'
- 'I had to fly back from Saudi on the day for the awards before flying back the following day but it really was a great evening'
- 'The lads often give out to me for saying what I say - but if I didn't say what I thought I wouldn't be being true to myself'
- 'All anyone wants is a pat on the back and these awards show you mean something to the yard and the people there. It's brilliant'
- 'It's tough financially and last year I said I might get a job driving a lorry instead - although to be fair I'd probably crash!'
- 'I'm not here to tell people how to train but if you hide something from me, I'm gone, I'm done - and you won't see me again'
- 'I had to fly back from Saudi on the day for the awards before flying back the following day but it really was a great evening'
- 'The lads often give out to me for saying what I say - but if I didn't say what I thought I wouldn't be being true to myself'
- 'All anyone wants is a pat on the back and these awards show you mean something to the yard and the people there. It's brilliant'