YOU can understand why Silvestre De Sousa is odds-on to win the British jockeys’ championship again, to reclaim the title that Jim Crowley wrestled out of his grasp last season.

De Sousa has burst out of the gates again this season, just as he did in the last two seasons. At the time of writing (close of play on Wednesday), he has ridden more horses than any other rider since the championship started, and he has ridden more winners than any other rider. As well as that, his strike-rate of 22% is impressive, and his level-stakes profit figure of £30.21 is second only to Daniel Tudhope (who rode the 20/1 Westow Stakes winner Fashion Queen and the 20/1 Lincoln winner Bravery and the 25/1 Infinity Tyres Handicap winner Al Qahwa) among those riders who have had 40 or more rides this season, which includes the top 15 riders.