Murphy goes head-to-head with Loughnane on Guineas weekend in jockeys’ title race

The Champion jockey fight could come down to a head-bobber here, a one-day ban there – or who wants it most

A little over a month after the Brocklesby at Doncaster launched the new season on turf, the Flat jockeys’ championship will finally be off and running at Newmarket on Saturday. For the first time since Oisin Murphy and William Buick took the race all the way to Champions Day in October 2021, there is a genuine chance of a contest that extends beyond the end of July.

It has the potential to be a historic contest too, and the bookies cannot agree on a favourite in what is likely to be a straight head-to-head between 20-year-old Billy Loughnane - who would be the youngest champion for more than a century - and Murphy, the reigning champion, looking to join Kieren Fallon as a six-time winner.