Focus On The Flat - July 16th 2026: Oisin Murphy and Billy Loughnane set for tight Flat Jockeys Championship battle

Races Now's Adam Smith gets us up to speed on an increasingly interesting Flat Jockeys Championship battle in his latest Focus On The Flat column...

Getting excited about the flat jockeys championship wouldn't be at the top of my to do list in the height of the season, but even I must admit it is really hotting up between five time champion Oisin Murphy and new kid on the block Billy Loughnane.

Tight contest was always on the cards

At the time of writing, Loughnane is just ahead on 62 with Murphy on 60. Whilst Rossa Ryan isn't a million miles away on 54. Of course, this is changing on a daily basis – so apologies if the numbers have shifted by the time you read this!

There is much wrong with the jockeys championship. It starts about five weeks too late for a start.

When Qipco sponsored the British Champion Series and Champions Day at Ascot, they managed to change the dates of the jockeys championship to start on 2,000 Guineas day and end on Champions Day.

It has its merits, but traditionalists will still see the Lincoln as day one of the season and November Handicap as the last.

Murphy started the season as 10/11 favourite and now find himself as the 5/4 outsider, with Loughnane odds on at 4/6 having been 6/4 in April. So the books had it right back in April – they expected a hard fought battle between the two and that is exactly what we have got.

Billy the Kid taking Murphy's mantle?

It has been a breakout year for Billy Loughnane with a first Group 1 win in the UK aboard Bow Echo in the 2,000 Guineas. Swiftly followed by top level winners two (Bow Echo again) and three (Comanche Brave in the July Cup).

Racing fans knew 'Billy The Kid' was going places, and now he finds himself resonating with more casual fans. The reception when returning to the winners enclosure after the Guineas and July Cup was palpable (I was there) and the future looks very bright for the 20-year-old.

It's fair to note that Murphy should already be in the position that Billy looks likely to take in the hearts and minds of the punting public.

I was convinced Oisin was heir to the Frankie Dettori throne as the face of British racing. Not that anyone will ever replace or get close to Dettori – but four or five years ago Murphy was without doubt the closest we had, and significantly, appeared willing to fill some of the space Frankie was about to leave.

Just look at Ryan Moore in comparison. He's basically not interested in media and PR, while Murphy has shown he is – and what's more, he's very good at it.

But brushes with the law (car crash and fights) and the BHA (Covid protocols and breathalyser tests) and subsequent punishments has certainly seen his reputation take a hit.

I would think there has been a deliberate stepping back from some, not all, of the media he was previously doing to concentrate on the track. 2026 Oisin Murphy is more business than personality and it is clearly working for him, which is most important of all.

One thing is for certain – both Murphy and Loughnane are all out for the 2026 flat jockeys championship. They have had more rides than anyone else and will leave no stone unturned between now and October 17th.

Even if you see it as a simple sideshow to the main event, having a close-fought battle that can capture the minds of more casual race-goers can only be a positive thing.

Let's hope it goes right down to the wire.

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