THIS year's Flat Jockeys' Championship ended on Saturday with the most thrilling of finishes.

Paul Hanagan took the title with 191 winners, just two ahead of Richard Hughes.

It's a great achievement for Paul who has been in front from day one.

He becomes the first northern-based jockey to lift the title since Kevin Darley took the honours in 2000.

The last two weeks have been extremely tough for Paul. He's been living out of a suitcase and away from home, but it's all paid off in the end.

He will donate all his riding fees for the last two weeks of the season (around £15,000) to his two chosen charities, The Alder Hay Children's Hospital and the Injured Jockeys' Fund. It's a very generous gesture on his part.

Paul, now totally exhausted, is taking a much needed break and doesn't plan to ride again until possibly February.

Ruby Walsh only returned to riding in August after a long spell on the sidelines through injury.

After riding a double at Down Royal on Saturday – including a big race win on Paul Nicholls' Kauto Star – Ruby suffered a crunching fall from Corrick Bridge.

He broke the tibia and fibula in his right leg and faces several more months out of the game.

Stroud-based jockey Jason Maguire, who has been on the sidelines for approximately three-and-a-half months, returned at Haydock last Thursday with a fantastic double. Both of his winners were for Donald McCain.

The trainer and myself are delighted to have Jason back. Hopefully, it's onwards and upwards from here.

This weekend it's the prestigious three day Open meeting at Cheltenham.

On Friday, Colin Tizzard's Cue Card, one of my horses to follow for the season, is likely to contest the Grade Two Collection Sharpe Novice Hurdle. This will be a significant step up in class from his first win over hurdles, but Cue Card is a very good horse.

Saturday's big feature is the Paddy Power Gold Cup. Although it's an open race it's hard to oppose the front two in the betting, Long Run and Great Endeavour.

A lot of shrewd judges think Long Run is a 'handicap good thing' for this race but the Pipe yard always do well at this meeting and they've not run Great Endeavour since the Cheltenham Festival.

On Sunday, I like Sanctuaire in the Greatwood Hurdle. The horse is trained by Paul Nicholls and with Ruby Walsh injured, one of my jockeys, Noel Fehily, has come in for the ride.