Jockeys’ Championships 2026/27
Last Updated 1 week ago | By The GrandNational.org.uk StaffWinning any race, from the Grand National to a maiden chase, comes down to more than just a horse’s ability, so it pays to know which jockeys are in form. British, Irish and Flat racing all run a jockeys’ championship throughout the season, and keeping an eye on the standings is a good way of spotting the riders worth following. Whoever rides the most winners by the end of the campaign is crowned Champion Jockey.
National Hunt Jockeys’ Championship Betting
The Jump Jockeys’ Championship is decided on ridden winners in National Hunt races, run from early May to the following April. A handful of jockeys have dominated it down the years.
Tony McCoy won it 20 years running before retiring in 2015, after which Richard Johnson took over. Johnson had finished runner-up to McCoy 17 times, so his four titles felt thoroughly deserved before he too retired.
Since then the title has been shared around more evenly, with Brian Hughes, Harry Skelton and Harry Cobden all winning it this decade. Sean Bowen made it back-to-back titles with a second successive win in 2025/26, riding more than 230 winners. He’s chasing a hat-trick in 2026/27, but it’s Harry Skelton setting the pace in this year’s standings so far, and the betting reflects it.
National Hunt Jockeys Championship Standings & Odds 2026/27
Have a look at the current leaders in the National Hunt Jockeys’ Championship for 2026/27.
| Jockey | Wins | Rides | Strike Rate | Odds |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Harry Skelton | 102 | 304 | 34% | 8/13 |
| Sean Bowen | 77 | 350 | 22% | 2/1 |
Gavin Sheehan | 32 | 132 | 24% | 100/1 |
Sam Twiston-Davies | 31 | 130 | 24% | 100/1 |
Brian Hughes | 29 | 121 | 24% | – |
*Statistics and odds last updated on 20th October 2026.
FILE PHOTO: Horse Racing – Cheltenham Festival – Cheltenham Racecourse, Cheltenham, Britain – March 16, 2018 Richard Johnson on Native River celebrates after winning the 15.30 Timico Cheltenham Gold Cup Chase Action Images via Reuters/Andrew Boyers/File Photo/Ritzau Scanpix
Irish Jump Jockeys’ Championship
Ireland runs its own jump jockeys’ title, and it’s been one of the most hotly contested individual honours in the sport. Jack Kennedy was the reigning champion going into this season, having ridden 102 winners in 2025/26, with Paul Townend, I Am Maximus’s regular partner, the man he dethroned, having taken the 2024/25 title with 108 winners.
So far this season it’s Darragh O’Keeffe setting the pace, with Kennedy and Townend both further back in the table. Townend’s lighter book of rides reflects his role as Willie Mullins’s stable jockey rather than any dip in form, maintaining an impressive strike rate, when compared to his rivals.
Ruby Walsh holds the record for Irish titles with 12, and Charlie Swan’s run of nine in a row remains the longest unbroken streak.
Irish Jump Jockeys’ Championship Standings 2026/27
| Jockey | Wins | Rides | Strike Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| DJ O’Keeffe | 48 | 330 | 15% |
| D King | 34 | 266 | 13% |
| DE Mullins | 25 | 143 | 17% |
| JW Kennedy | 24 | 133 | 18% |
| P Townsend | 23 | 83 | 28% |
*Statistics last updated on 20th October 2026.
Flat Jockeys’ Championship Betting
The Flat Jockeys’ Championship runs between the Guineas Festival in May and British Champions Day in mid-October, and it’s been won by some of the finest riders the sport has produced. Gordon Richards, Lester Piggott and Pat Eddery are among the greats of the past, with Frankie Dettori, Kieren Fallon and Ryan Moore the more recent names.
The 2026 title brought a changing of the guard. Oisin Murphy had won five of the previous seven renewals, but it was 20-year-old Billy Loughnane who took the crown with 159 winners, 24 clear of Murphy, becoming the youngest Flat Champion Jockey since 1924.
Final Flat Jockeys’ Championship Standings 2026
| Jockey | Wins | Rides | Strike Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Billy Loughnane | 159 | 811 | 20% |
| Oisin Murphy | 135 | 676 | 20% |
| Rossa Ryan | 105 | 600 | 18% |
Cieren Fallon | 91 | 514 | 18% |
| Jason Hart | 81 | 606 | 13% |
*Statistics last updated on 20th October 2026.
There are equivalent titles for trainers, too. See our trainers’ championships page for the jump and Flat standings.
If you’re after jockeys with the Grand National itself in mind rather than the season-long titles, our Grand National jockeys to follow page is the one to check.
Jockeys’ Championships FAQs
Who is leading the Jump Jockeys’ Championship?
Harry Skelton currently leads the 2026/27 Jump Jockeys’ Championship with 102 winners, well clear of two-time defending champion Sean Bowen on 77.
When does the Jump Jockeys’ Championship run?
The Jump Jockeys’ Championship runs from early May to the following April, covering the whole National Hunt season including the Cheltenham Festival and the Grand National.
Who has won the most Jump Jockeys’ Championships?
Tony McCoy has won the most Jump Jockeys’ Championships, taking the title 20 years in a row between 1996 and 2015. It’s a record that’s unlikely ever to be broken.
Who is leading the Irish Jump Jockeys’ Championship?
D.J. O’Keeffe currently leads the 2026/27 Irish Jump Jockeys’ Championship with 48 winners, ahead of D. King on 34.
Who won the Flat Jockeys’ Championship?
Billy Loughnane won the 2026 Flat Jockeys’ Championship with 159 winners, ending Oisin Murphy’s run of success and becoming the youngest champion since 1924.
When does the Flat Jockeys’ Championship run?
The Flat Jockeys’ Championship runs from the Guineas Festival in early May to British Champions Day in mid-October.
What is a conditional jockey?
A conditional jockey is a National Hunt rider who hasn’t yet ridden enough winners to lose their weight allowance, letting them claim between 3lb and 7lb off their mount depending on experience. See our betting glossary for more on how claiming works.
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