Lee set to be crowned champion jockey at the Curragh
Jockey Billy Lee and trainer Willie McCreery with connections of Sanctijude after winning at Punchestown in September, one of 17 winners this season for the duo Photo: Patrick McCann/Racing Post
Champion jockey elect Billy Lee is on course to realise a lifetime’s ambition when the Irish Flat racing season draws to a close on Sunday, November 1 at the Curragh.
With just five meetings of the season to go, the Ballingarry, Co Limerick rider leads his closest pursuer, Colin Keane, by 19 wins, 98 to 79.
Should Lee finally win the crown he has long coveted, it has been coming. He finished runner-up to Keane on three previous occasions: in 2022 (by just three wins), 2023 and 2024.
He was again vying for the championship last year when an injury sustained in July sidelined him for two months and the chance was gone. Such is the life of a jockey.
Lee, 40, is poised to become the oldest first-time title winner in Ireland since Tommy Murphy achieved the same feat aged 42 in 1978.
His haul for the calendar year already exceeds 100 wins, but he is also aiming to reach the century for the Turf season which started on March 15.
Tipperary trainer Paddy Twomey has been the jockey’s biggest supporter with 33 winners ahead of Curragh-based Willie McCreery next on 17.
His season has been littered with numerous stakes winners, mostly from Twomey’s stable in Golden, also the source of his most lucrative success in the Goffs Million on Trean.
Overall, Lee has ridden winners for 22 different trainers from almost 650 rides during the campaign, by some margin the highest total in the land. His victory will be richly deserved.
The race to be Champion Apprentice is a good deal closer with Tipperary’s Sam Coen leading the way on 26 wins from Co Laois teenager Reese Holohan on 24 and Paddy Harnett from Co Limerick on 22.
Aidan O’Brien will be Champion Trainer in Ireland for the 29th time. He has trained the winners of 22 Group 1 races at home and abroad thus far this year and more may follow this weekend at Doncaster and in the Breeders’ Cup in Kentucky on October 30 and 31.
The Coolmore partners will receive the trophy for Champion Owner for the 28th time.
The 2026 Champions will be crowned at the final Flat fixture of the season on Sunday week at the Curragh, with the first race off at 12.15pm.
