Grand National-winning jockey Daryl Jacob is not planning to rest on his laurels after a headline-grabbing season came to an end at Sandown.
Jacob may be the understudy to the brilliant Ruby Walsh at champion trainer Paul Nicholls' Ditcheat yard, but that did not stop him riding 83 winners in all and picking up over £1million in win prize-money.
While this season's Cheltenham Festival came and went without a victory, Jacob enjoyed his day in the sun at Aintree as he landed a thrilling renewal of the world's most famous steeplechase on Neptune Collonges by a nose.
Nicholls looked likely to lose his trainer's title to Nicky Henderson up until that success - but that all changed in an instant as the National victory ensured he would keep his crown.
Very much a team player, that element of the triumph delighted Jacob as much as anything.
He said: "Winning the National has taken a while to sink in, to be honest. It was a great day for me, but I was just as delighted for Paul and the whole team at Ditcheat.
"Everyone at the yard puts a lot of graft in so to ride a National winner for them was fantastic and it was something everyone enjoyed."
Neptune Collonges got up in the last stride to wrest the spoils from Sunnyhillboy and Richie McLernon at Aintree, giving Nicholls his first ever Grand National winner.
Jacob promised after joining the team that he would deliver his boss the dream success - and was delighted his prediction was realised.
He said: "You say things like that at the time and you hope you can do it, but for it to actually happen was unbelievable.
"I knew I was catching Richie's horse all the time and you're just hoping the line doesn't come too soon at that stage.
"When you're on a horse that is catching the horse in front all the time you just put your head down all the way to the line and thankfully we got there."
After such a magnificent end to the season, Jacob could be forgiven for looking forward to some relaxation time in sunnier climes.
But with plenty of Nicholls' huge string likely to be in action during the summer months, the rider is keen to remain available as much as he can.
"It's been a really good season. I've ridden 83 winners and I think 55 or 56 of those have been for Paul, so I owe him a lot," Jacob said.
"The National is obviously the highlight, but you enjoy every winner and every one is important.
"Paul will have plenty of horses in during the summer so hopefully there's plenty to keep me busy and we'll just keep kicking.
"I'm already looking forward to next season."
