Championship round-up: Sandown haul puts seal on Nicholls' 13th trainers' title

Paul Nicholls celebrated a 13th British trainers' title over jumps in style at Sandown on Saturday, winning five of the seven races as he finished the season in flying form.

The Somerset trainer won his first championship in 2006 and is closing on Martin Pipe's record of 15 titles, although he said his latest season had been testing at times with his horses below par during parts of the campaign.

They were certainly back on song for the season's finale, with Knappers Hill, Saint Calvados, Greaneteen, McFabulous and Samarrive taking Nicholls to 143 winners for the season with more than £2.9 million in prize-money.

Champion trainer Paul Nicholls ends season in style with 410-1 five-timer

"It's fantastic," said the champion trainer before his five-timer. "It's been quite a tough year, with the horses a little bit in and out of form, but nearly 140 winners and all that prize-money is not bad and reflects well on the team at home.

"We focus again now and get a good team for next year. If you win the Premier League in football you want to win it the year after and we'll do our best as always."

Brian Hughes was unable to sign off with a winner at Sandown but was crowned champion jump jockey for a second time as he ended a stellar campaign with 204 winners, becoming just the fourth rider in history to notch a double century in a season over jumps in Britain.

Kevin Brogan followed in the footsteps of Hughes, Sir Anthony McCoy and Richard Johnson as he was crowned champion conditional with 47 winners and it was business as usual for JP McManus, who once again turned the owners' championship into a one-runner race thanks to 97 winners and more than £2.6 million in prize-money.

McCoy made his own presentation when gifting the trophy for his first riding title in 1996 to kingmaker jockeys' agent Dave Roberts, who has booked his last ride having announced his retirement this week.

Final trainer standings

1. Paul Nicholls
2. Nicky Henderson
3. Dan Skelton
4. Willie Mullins

Final jockey standings

1. Brian Hughes204
2. Sam Twiston-Davies 105
3. Harry Skelton 103
4. Harry Cobden 99

Final owner standings

1. JP McManus
2. Cheveley Park Stud
3. Simon Munir & Isaac Souede
4. Robert Waley-Cohen

Final conditional jockey standings

1. Kevin Brogan 47
2. Theo Gillard 33
3. Liam Harrison 31
4. Jack Tudor 29

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