SILVESTRE de Sousa will be crowned British champion flat jockey at Ascot today. This is the first year that the official ‘season’ ends on Champions Day rather than at Doncaster’s November Handicap meeting.

This year’s competition began on May 2nd rather than at Doncaster in March.

Brazilian-born de Sousa will today receive a trophy along with a cheque for £25,000 from Lester Piggott and last year’s champion Richard Hughes.

De Sousa, who worked for Dermot Weld for two years before moving to Britain in 2004, is considered to be one of the hardest working riders in the weighing room and has ridden in over 700 races this season, winning 132 of them as of midday yesterday.

His biggest win this season was the Juddmonte International at York when his mount Arabian Queen became the first and only horse to-date to defeat Golden Horn.

Lester Piggott said of de Sousa: “He’s looking to ride all the time and he’ll ride anything, anywhere and that is a big thing. So many of them are tied to certain stables or owners, but he can do what he likes. I think that has helped him; he’s got no ties. He can do a low weight and he deserves it really.”

Richard Hughes added: “He is the same Silvestre every day, a real Mr Reliable, and he doesn’t make many mistakes. Now I’m a trainer, I’d be pleased to have him ride for me.”

Tom Marquand is still favourite to be named champion apprentice today. Marquand is based with Richard Hannon. Jack Garritty, just one behind heading into today’s racing, is based with Richard Fahey.