Less than a year short of his 50th birthday, Pat Eddery is in the form of his life.

The triple Epsom Derby winner has realistic chances of gaining his 12th champion jockey title in 2001, which would beat the record he holds with Lester Piggott of 11.

Eddery had his first winner in the UK when Alvao obliged at Epsom in April 1969.

The course became a happy hunting ground, with Eddery enjoying his first Derby success there in 1975 on Grundy.

Now a freelance, he has ridden more than 4,000 winners and has landed virtually every major Flat race in Europe.

His record of 71 wins at Royal Ascot, which stretches back to 1969, is easily the best of any current jockey.