Sanders held the lead by one going into the final day of the flat season, but a double for County Tipperary native Spencer saw the honours shared for only the third time in history.

Both men rode 190 winners throughout the campaign, and their battle went down to the final race of the season.

Sanders, successful earlier on the card aboard Incomparable, knew he had his name on the roll of honour after both riders finished unplaced in the penultimate totesport. com November Handicap.

But 27-year-old Spencer still had a final throw of the dice on Inchnadamph, who coasted to victory in the concluding totesportgames. com Handicap to level the score again.

Spencer said: "I'm choked.

It's been physically and mentally draining over the last month. This was the best result that could have happened for racing . . . because no one deserved to lose.

"He [Sanders] is the toughest rival you could ever meet.

I'm so delighted. It's the best result . . . there could be no other result."

Sanders said: "It's been a bit of holy grail for me. I've had a few shots at it before but just fell short the last few times.

"This year's been totally different. I can't believe how many winners I rode in the last couple of weeks. It's unbelievable."

Sanders was guaranteed at least a share of the spoils after the outcome of the November Handicap, in which both jockeys finished out of the money.

Sanders was prominent in the early stages aboard John Terry but faded, while Spencer's mount, Pippa Greene, was never competitive.

"It's probably the nicest loser I've ever ridden, " smiled a delighted Sanders. "All I was doing was looking where Jamie was . . . I don't normally ride like that. My name's on the list now, " he told Channel 4 Racing.

Yesterday was the latest success in Spencer's impressive career. He burst onto the scene as a teenager when he partnered Tarascon to victory in the Irish 1000 Guineas in 1998 and was then Irish Champion apprentice in 1999.

He won the Irish 1000 Guineas again aboard Gossamer in 2002 and was British Champion in 2005.

His father was National Hunt trainer George Spencer, who sent out Winning Fair to lift the Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham in 1963 and he is the godson of Coolmore supremo John Magnier.