Who will land the 2025 British Champion Jockey crown?
The British flat racing Champion Jockey title is one of the most prestigious personal accolades that a rider can collect during their career.
Starting at Newmarket on Guineas weekend at the start of May and culminating at Ascot for the season finale, Champions Day, in October, the jockey who picks up the most wins claims the prize.
Oisin Murphy was crowned the leading jockey for the fourth time in his glittering career last year, but has indicated different priorities going into the new campaign.
That has shaken up the frontrunners for the Champion Jockey title in the horse racing tips somewhat, with new contenders appearing to lead the race as they hunt down the trophy for the first time.
With that said, here’s a look at who could have the firepower to land the sought-after title later this year, etching their name into horse racing history.
Rossa Ryan
One of the most likely heirs to Murphy’s crown is Irish compatriot Rossa Ryan, who is growing in stature with each passing season.
Ryan was named the All-Weather Champion Jockey in 2023-24 and had a remarkable year on the turf last season, finishing second to Murphy with 110 wins in the championship.
Two of his biggest triumphs came in the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe and the Breeders’ Cup, respectively, but his stats prove how prominent he is in the UK.
As stable jockey for Ralph Beckett, Ryan will have plenty of ammunition to attack this year—including the likes of You Got To Me, Starlust and Cathedral.
Billy Loughnane
Crowned the 2023 Champion Apprentice and the 2024-25 All-Weather Champion Jockey, pinching the title for Ryan, Billy Loughnane’s stock just continues to grow.
The 19-year-old was fourth in last year’s standings, notably finishing ahead of two-time Champion Jockey William Buick with 97 wins during the turf campaign.
Loughnane, who rode 162 winners across the entirety of 2024, had his crowning moment of his career thus far at Royal Ascot, winning the Group 2 Coventry Stakes aboard 80/1 shot Rashabar.
Another Irish jockey, Loughnane, is yet to win a Group 1 in his short time in the saddle. But you wouldn’t rule that out this year, as Boughey is well-equipped and in form out of his new yard.
Oisin Murphy
Of course, while retaining his title might not be top of Murphy’s wish list for the new season, you can never rule the 29-year-old out.
The four-time top jockey streaked clear with 163 wins last year—53 more than Ryan in second—but might not put in the same hard graft, as he mounted a whopping 754 rides.
Murphy won’t be short of favourites across the course of the season, though, and he should be in with a sniff later in the campaign, then he might have a change of heart.
For now, he’s hoping for quality over quantity, and he should have that in abundance from Andrew Balding’s Kingsclere yard—including 2000 Guineas hope Jonquil.