AP McCoy back in the saddle for Barbury's JCB Champions Challenge at July's International Horse Trials
AP McCoy (photo by Niels Van Gijn - courtesy JCB Champions Challenge)Twenty times champion jump jockey AP McCoy is set to make a return to the saddle at this year's St. James’s Place Wealth Management Barbury International Horse Trials in the JCB Champions Challenge on Saturday, July 11.
McCoy retired from race riding in April following an extraordinary record-breaking career with 20 consecutive jump jockey titles and over 4,300 winners. The 'Champ' will be joined by a trio of jump jockeys in the second running of the JCB Champions Challenge, a unique horse race between the country's top riders held in aid of Injured Jockeys Fund.
The race will feature jump jockeys versus event riders over a specially designed course - including a water jump. The winning junior and senior teams from the Inter Hunt Scurry, held on the same day with over 30 teams taking part, will form the other two teams.
Joining AP McCoy will be Sam Twiston-Davies, at 22 one of the brightest of the new generation of young jump jockeys, Richard Johnson, who is the second-most successful jockey in jumps history with over 2000 winners, and Wayne Hutchinson, stable jockey to Barbury trainer Alan King.
The eventers boast an awesome line-up: Andrew Nicholson, who has won the Barbury International three star and Burghley horse trials three times in a row with his grey Avebury, will lead the team.
He will be joined by fellow New Zealander, Sir Mark Todd, and two of Britain's finest riders Harry Meade, who finished second at last year's Badminton Horse Trials, and multiple Olympic medallist Tina Cook. Nicholson last raced for the Injured Jockeys Fund at this year's Cheltenham Festival.
Nigel Bunter, Chairman of the Barbury International Horse Trials expects a 'nail biting' contest: "Last year the jump jockeys were victorious in the inaugural running of this 
John Francome and Zara Phillips battle it out at Barbury in 2014's inaugural JCB Champions Challenge at the St James's Place Wealth Management Barbury International Horse Trials (photo by Trevor Meeks - courtesy JCB Champions Challenge)event and with the some of the greatest names in horseracing and eventing taking part and it's also very exciting we will be welcoming AP McCoy to Barbury."
"The eventers will be hungry for a win. We are delighted to host the Champions Challenge again together with JCB and supporting the Injured Jockeys Fund. May the best team win!"
Tickets for the Barbury International Horse Trials start from £12 per person per day booked in advance. Children under 12 years go free.
For information and tickets visit the Barbury website or call 01672 516125.
And keep checking @Barburycastle #championschallenge