Jason Hart celebrates Cock o' the North title ahead of Doncaster's Flat finale

Scotsman Hart recorded 79 winners over the course of the season at the 16 qualifying Scottish and northern tracks, which started at Town Moor with the Lincoln Handicap meeting on March 29 and concludes back there today with the Virgin Bet November Handicap card.

Speaking to The Yorkshire Post on Thursday evening as he drove back from Newcastle, where he had added a winner to the list in his best ever season in the saddle, Hart was not aware he had clinched the prestigious award.

On being told he was the new champion jockey of the north, he said: “Have I won it?! Oh grand. I just try and ride as many winners as I can, it doesn’t bother me where, but it is lovely and a nice surprise.”

Malton-based Hart has ridden 125 winners in total this campaign and said the news was made all the more poignant following the loss of his grandfather Derek Campbell, himself a former jumps jockey, on Wednesday evening at the age of 92.

"It’s brightened the day. He was a big influence. My parents got me the ponies but he was the one who pushed me that way. He enjoyed watching me and hopefully I can continue to make him proud,” he said.

Hart will receive a special cap marking his achievement at the track today and his name will be etched in the record books along with many of the north’s top riders, including the likes of 16-time winner Eddie Hide, Kevin Darley, Danny Tudhope, Paul Mulrennan and Paul Hanaghan.

Another previous winner of the award was Joe Fanning, a mainstay of the Mark and Charlie Johnston operation at Middleham for many years, who took Hart under his wing when he first came down from his home town Hawick.

The rider, who will always be associated with the brilliant Group One-winning sprinter, Highfield Princess, said: "Joe was an influence too. When I was based with Mark early doors, Joe would give me a lift racing and point me in the right direction.

"When you look at someone like him and the work ethic he has had, I’ve tried to take a leaf out of his book. He was always there for a bit of advice when I needed it.”

Looking at today’s eight-race card, which gets underway at 11.37, he seems to have a nice book of rides – including two for Skipton-born William Haggas.

He starts off with an apparent outsider in the shape of Nariko for Hugo Palmer in the six-furlong Listed Virgin Bet Supports Safe Gambling Wentworth Stakes (1.25).

Then it is Eye of Dubai for long-time supporters John and Sean Quinn, in the six-furlong Virgin Bet Daily Price Boosts Handicap (2.35) – a race the pair won 12 months ago.

Hart said: "He has a nice draw and there’s some pace around him, he likes a bit of cover and should get a nice ride into the race.

"I’ve also got a nice ride, Castle Cove, for William Haggas in the Virgin Bet November Handicap. (3.45)

"It is good to be picking up rides for those yards. Off his Chester run, I think we’d have every chance. He will go on the ground and I can see trip and track suiting his run-style.

“Anna Swan in penultimate race is another for the Haggas yard. She has a tricky draw but looks straightforward enough.”

The proud Scot will also have one eye on the action at Murrayfield this afternoon where Gregor Townsend’s men take on the might of the New Zealand All Blacks.

"Myself and Rowan Scott sit next to each other in the weighing room and we are both from Hawick and are keen on the rugby. We will have the iPad on keeping an eye on that!

"It will be a tough ask but we have got a full-strength squad and we nearly beat them a few years ago – so you just never know.

"Darcy Graham – Scotland’s record joint-leading try scorer is also from Hawick – so if he can get some ball in space with Duhan [van der Merwe] then you never know.”

After Doncaster, the Flat has a week off and then Hart, who is married to Jess and has two children Hughie and Harper, will be flying in and out of Bahrain every Friday during the winter as well as riding here.

"I just need to keep busy. It is the most winners I have ever had in a year, it’s been a good year but we all start back at zero on January 1 and hopefully I can do even better next year.”

His 125 wins have so far yielded just shy of £1m in winning money and over £1.8m in total and Hart is grateful for his network of support.

He said: “Alan Harrison, my agent, booked me on my second ever ride and has done me ever since. He has done a tremendous job throughout.

"I’ve had great support from John and Sean [Quinn] and a lot of winners for Charlie [Johnston] this year. A lot of people have supported me – too many to name, but I am very grateful.”