'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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- 'You can see why people end up struggling - when you're trying to pay the electric bill, losing one ride can be massive'
- 'I've never paid six figures for a horse and never will - I learned pretty quickly you're only one phone call away from f*** all'
- 'I’ve trained some fabulous horses, worked with some excellent riders - maybe I have brought a little bit of talent to the table as well'
- ‘When you’re in the moment and you’re starved, you’re ready to explode - everything built up and I just lost my s**t’
- 'He must have his breakfast earlier than Willie does' - Patrick Mullins goes behind enemy lines at Gordon Elliott's yard