CHAMPION jump jockey Tony McCoy is to be at the centre of a campaign to come out on top in the BBC’s Sports Personality Of The Year Award.

Following his first Grand National victory, watched by around eight million viewers on BBC1, he is one of the favourites to lift the coveted award, together with Manchester United’s Wayne Rooney.

However, to become eligible for the public vote McCoy must be shortlisted by newspaper sports editors.

Racing For Change PR director Nick Attenborough and his committee will be behind an energetic promotion, with Attenborough reported as saying: “We should be the people who try to help Tony McCoy win the award, and subject to AP’s approval I’d love to make it a goal.

“Voting isn’t until the autumn but we have it very much in our minds to work on it when the summer is over.

“For the good of the sport we need to raise the profile of all our top jockeys and make sure they are known by a wider percentage of the population.”

With the new jump season just a few weeks old, Tony McCoy is once again at the head of the jockeys’ table with 12 winners, five ahead of nearest rival Brian Hughes.