Brighton's Jamie Moore is celebrating this week after a dramatic victory in the race to become the champion conditional jockey.

Moore, who is attached to Martin Pipe, took the title by just one winner from Sam Thomas.

Sam was beaten a head in the final race at Market Rasen and his first thought was to call his friend and rival to congratulate him.

Jamie, 19, second son of Woodingdean trainer Gary Moore, said: "It was terrific of Sam to call me so soon after he had just got beaten in that final race.

"He had headed the leaderboard for such a long time and he must have felt gutted."

Moore, who rode 48 winners and needs just four more to lose his claim altogether, listened to commentary of the race at Market Rasen.

He said: "For most of the way, it sounded as if Sam was certain to win and I had resigned myself to sharing the title.

"But we are good friends and the pressure over the last few weeks has not altered that."

Pipe confirmed his 14th trainers' championship with a short head success by Puntal in the Betfred Gold Cup Chase at Sandown last Saturday.

On Wednesday, champion jockey Tony McCoy revealed he was quitting his position as number one rider for Pipe to take up a similar role with Jonjo O'Neill, whose major backer is leading Irish owner JP McManus.

It is not inconceivable that Moore, although still very young, could replace the legendary McCoy as Pipe's chief rider.

Jamie said: "Mr Pipe was tremendous. He told me at the start of the season that he would make me champion conditional and when he says he will do something, he does."

McCoy stood down from several rides in the last few weeks to help his younger colleague.

Jamie said: "AP was brilliant. I can ask his advice about anything and he's always ready to help.

"Despite all the stress and pressure of a long season, he is always such a nice guy, so helpful as well as being a brilliant jockey."

Jamie's season had its frustrating moments.The worst was missing the ride on his dad's horse, Tikram, in the Mildmay of Fleet Chase at Cheltenham last month.

He said: "I was banned at the time and missed the first two days of the Festival.

"On the third day I got another ban for incorrect use of the whip and that meant I missed the whole of the Aintree meeting as well. That was the worst time of the season and I'm determined such a thing won't happen again."

With hindsight, Jamie admits he might not have won on Tikram at Cheltenham.

"Timmy Murphy gave that horse an inspired ride and, to be honest, I was so thrilled for dad and mum because it was their biggest winner ever."

Jamie's ambitions are to become champion jockey and win the Cheltenham Gold Cup.

He said: "For me, that would be more important than the Grand National but, of course, it would be pretty good to win both."

The jockeys' championship is always hard fought and Jamie cites the example of Richard Johnson.

He said: "It's bad luck for him that he is the same generation as AP and, while those two will probably retire long before I do, there is always going to be tough competition and, in addition, you need so much luck."

There is no sunshine holiday booked for the champion conditional jockey.

"The new season has started and I don't want to miss any racing," he said.

"I'm enjoying myself so much - the life with the lads in the yard and the races themselves - that I don't need a holiday.

"Riding a decent horse is a good holiday for me."

Jamie is not the first champion produced by Gary Moore. His brother Ryan, 20, was amateur champion on the flat two years ago and champion apprentice last year. He was also one of the leading riders in Dubai over the winter.

Another Ingleside Stables graduate, Ian Mongan, was champion on the all-weather circuit last winter.

Jamie Moore, like his sibling Ryan, is a teetotaller.

"Neither of the boys like the taste of alcohol," said Jayne Moore of her two elder sons. I'm relieved because it is a serious complication out of the way. They both like a party and can drive home afterwards without worrying."

Jamie and Ryan may have to look to their laurels in a few years time. Youngest brother, Josh, 12, already rides racehorses at home and is successful at hunter trial and one-day event cross-country. At Firle recently, Josh finished third in a competition, easily beating his sister Hayley.

Hayley Moore, 16, will be in action in ladies' races this year when she has finished her GCSE exams at Cardinal Newman School.

She has already completed the amateur riders' course at Newmarket. Hayley has no ambition to turn professional but, like her mother, will ride as an amateur.