AP McCoy to join Channel 4 Racing team
Friday 30 October 2015 11:08, UK
AP McCoy is to join Channel 4's racing team on an exclusive contract from this November to coincide with the start of the jump season.
His first broadcast will be on the Saturday of The Open at Cheltenham and he will also cover the Hennessy Gold Cup, the William Hill King George, Cheltenham's January Trials meeting, two days from Cheltenham Festival, the Crabbie's Grand National and the Investec Derby.
The 20 times champion jockey will also take in two days from Royal Ascot, additional days from York's Ebor Festival and will re-join for the Flat season finale QIPCO British Champions Day.
McCoy said: "I've been very lucky and privileged to have enjoyed a fantastic career as a jump jockey. I'm looking forward to working with Channel 4 over the next year and delighted to be back at some of the main festivals with a top presentation team."
Ed Havard, Channel 4's Head of TV Events, said: "AP is the most celebrated jockey in the world and is one of the greatest sportsmen of all time. His unrivalled knowledge of the sport will be an absolutely massive asset to our coverage and viewers will benefit from the insights of the most famous name in the sport.
"Together with our existing team - including Clare Balding, Mick Fitzgerald and Nick Luck - AP will help take Channel 4's racing coverage to new levels. We are absolutely thrilled to welcome him to Channel 4."
Clare Balding said: "I love the sport, the horses and the people in racing; and I feel particularly privileged to get the chance to work with AP McCoy. To hear his unique insight and opinion will be fascinating for all of us."
Trainer Jonjo O'Neill added: "Channel 4 deserves much praise for recruiting AP - he will be a wonderful addition to their racing team."
Richard Johnson, runner up to McCoy in the jockey's title for the last 20 years, said: "It's great that Channel 4 has managed to get AP on board. It will be great for the racing public to see a different side of AP and it's always important to get a rider's point of view and his are second to none."
