BILLY Lee will be crowned champion jockey for the first time next Sunday at the Curragh.

At 6pm on Friday the Limerick man led his nearest rival Colin Keane by 19 winners and both riders are heading to the Breeders’ Cup next week, as is third-placed Dylan Browne McMonagle.

At 40 years of age, Lee will be the oldest first-time title winner in Ireland since Tommy Murphy achieved the same feat aged 42 in 1978. However, Lee’s title has been a long time coming. He finished runner-up to Keane on three previous occasions: in 2022 (by just three wins), 2023 and 2024.

It is extremely rare for a freelance jockey to be champion. This year Lee has taken almost 650 rides – more than any other jockey – and he has ridden winners for 22 individual trainers. Paddy Twomey and Willie McCreery have, as usual, been his most fruitful sources of winners.

Speaking to The Irish Field this week, Lee said: “It’s kind of sinking in now. It’s something that will always be there on my CV. There’s a hell of a lot of hard work put into it, both this year and in years gone by. So it’ll be a nice achievement.

“I’m very lucky that the yards I am associated with have had a good year. Michael Grassick, Ken Condon, Andy Oliver, a few for Henry de Bromhead, and of course Paddy Twomey and Willie McCreery. They all add up in the end. It’s great to be getting that support and to know you’re doing well for them.”

Near misses

As well as finishing second three times, Lee was going well last year until he suffered an injury in July which effectively ended his title hopes.

Reflecting on his near misses, Lee said: “That first one was a bit hard to take, because I thought it might have been a once-in-a-career opportunity. I wasn’t really looking beyond that year but I kind of learned a lot from that and learned to just take it as it comes.

“You hope it’s coming. This year I kept myself busy but I’ve enjoyed it all year.

“I probably just worked on my fitness a little bit harder just to make sure that I was back strong enough again [from injury] but I kept it much similar this year.

“My weight has been fairly good this year. I’ve been probably doing a pound or two lighter than the last couple of years consistently. It’s held well and the workload has been heavy.

“I’m looking forward to the end of the turf season but, at the same time, we still have a bit of racing at Dundalk, so I won’t get a break until that stops. We’re expecting our third child in mid-December, so we’ll have a busy household. I’ll probably try and take a couple of weeks in January to settle down.

Twomey backing

Paddy Twomey has provided Lee with 33 winners so far this year, including the Goffs Million on Trean. “I feel Paddy and I have a great understanding,” he said. “We’re nearly always on the same page as regards what we think of horses.

“When it comes to deciding whether or not to run a horse, Paddy often sees something that maybe a lot of people wouldn’t see. Oftentimes I’m wondering why he’s waiting to run a horse but it’s just a knack he has. He’ll wait a couple of weeks and the horse will come back around.

“He has a great understanding of his horses and when they go racing they have a great chance of winning or will run really well. That gives me confidence going out to ride them. I know the horse is in the best form it can be.”

Asked to name a highlight of the year, Lee said: “Trean was probably the best story. When the season is dragging on a bit you’re looking for a good story like that and he came along at the right time. It was a popular success.

“Another highlight for me was City Of Memphis. She’s a very good filly. To do what she did early in the season (won three races including a Group 3 and Group 2) was very good.”

Lee has also soldiered alongside Willie McCreery for many years and rides Jancis for the Kildare trainer at the Breeders’ Cup next Saturday.

“Willie supplied me with my first Group 1 winner and this year we’ve had great success,” Lee said. “His horses have been running well in the second half of the season.”

Lee’s return flight from the US is due to land in Dublin on Sunday morning and he expects to be available to ride at the Curragh on the closing day of the turf season.

“You’d be hoping there will be plenty of family members and relations there on the day. Hopefully we’ll have a great day out and enjoy it.”