FITZGERALD HOPING TO RETAIN FESTIVAL TITLE Mick Fitzgerald, leading rider at the Cheltenham Festival for the past two years, is all set to bid for a third successive title at this year`s meeting.Fitzgerald`s 10 Festival successes include the Tote Cheltenham Gold Cup on See More Business and the Queen Mother Champion Chase on Call Equiname in 1999 plus last year`s Irish Independent Arkle Chase and Bonusprint Stayers` Hurdle on Tiutchev and Bacchanal respectively.The Irishman, who is stable jockey to Nicky Henderson in England, says that his Festival wins are among the highlights of his career.'It was a boyhood dream of mine to ride a winner at the Cheltenham Festival and every victory there is very special to me, as with any jockey,' he said.'But to win the leading jockey trophy twice, meaning I had had more than one success, was unbelievable and I won`t be in any hurry to give the award up this year.'If taking the trophy again, Fitzgerald will become the first jockey to be leading rider for three consecutive years and the first since Peter Scudamore to be top rider three times.However, Fitzgerald is not the most successful current rider. That mantle falls to Istabraq`s jockey Charlie Swan with 15 wins, who is going for an unprecedented fourth Smurfit Champion Hurdle success on the same horse, followed by Tony McCoy on 12 while Norman Williamson also has 10 triumphs.
