Cieren Fallon lands second apprentice title to join legends Piggott and Mercer

Cieren Fallon has set himself a target of beating this year's total of winners after joining an exclusive club by landing a second apprentice title.

The 2019 champion was officially handed back the trophy at Doncaster on Saturday after emulating the likes of Lester Piggott and Joe Mercer, who are among just ten dual winners since World War Two.

No apprentice had doubled up since Gary Bardwell in 1987 and 1988 and Fallon said: "It's been a very good year and I've been very lucky. I've had lots of support, I can't thank every owner and trainer who has supported me enough.

"Mr Haggas has supported me a lot and I've been in the right place at the right time. I hope it can continue next year."

Fallon won 43 races in the pandemic-shortened championship campaign and will be riding on the all-weather through the winter, building up to the next turf campaign.

"I hope just to ride more winners than next year and have a bit more Group success," he said. "I hope to keep building each year.

"If things fall right, with Qatar Racing and Mr Haggas, I hope I'll have a lot more chances. If that's so, I don't see why I can't better this year."

Fallon is also looking forward to getting back on board Oxted, who gave him hist first Group 1 success in the July Cup at Newmarket.

"Oxted helped me when I lost my claim, he's been a big part of my career," Fallon said. "It will be a big ask for him next year but I hope he can win those champion sprints."

Oisin Murphy: champion jockey for the second consecutive seasonCredit: George Selwyn

Oisin Murphy was also champion for the second year in a row, although he was away at the Breeders' Cup and unable to be crowned at Doncaster.

Murphy officially retained his title late on Friday evening when William Buick ran out of opportunities to catch the 25-year-old, who had his last rides of he season at Southwell on Tuesday and ended the unusual campaign on 142 winners.

The championship, which usually runs from Guineas weekend until British Champions Day in October, was extended by three weeks this year after the coronavirus pandemic delayed the beginning of the season.

There was also a sense of deja vu in Ireland, where Colin Keane earlier this week reached a century with his final ride of the season – a feat he also achieved when winning his first title in 2017.

"It's been a remarkable year," he said. "September was the month that really put us back into the hunt. Once we got momentum going it really rolled from there and thankfully we kept it up."

Gavin Ryan: crowned champion apprentice at NaasCredit: Patrick McCann

Gavin Ryan capped a breakthrough year with the apprentice title in Ireland.

"It's been a brilliant year," he said. "There were a lot of highlights from the season but if you pushed me to pick one, I'd have to go with Shale's win in the Silver Flash Stakes at Leopardstown.

"That was a huge milestone and to win my first Group 3 for Donnacha [O'Brien] in the colours of Mr Derrick Smith, Mr Michael Tabor and Mr John Magnier, who have had the faith to keep me on the horses, it was unbelievable."

Join Members' Club Ultimate and read tipping from the likes of Pricewise and Paul Kealy, all the big interviews and features, daily comment and news analysis – plus our Ultimate Daily newsletter. Click here to sign up.