Billy Loughnane set to become youngest Champion Jockey in over a century

Billy Loughnane is set to become Flat racing’s champion jockey at Ascot on Saturday, aged 20.

He will be the youngest to win the title in more than a century.

He overtook defending champion Oisin Murphy after a slow start to the season in May, then extended his lead from mid-July.

Loughnane grew up around racing and began riding as an apprentice at 16.

His success has come with support from his family, trainer George Boughey and agent Tony Hind.

The title caps a rapid rise for a jockey with more than 700 career winners, according to one account.

He says he enjoys the demanding routine of riding most days and wants to keep racing.

He is due to be officially crowned at Ascot on Saturday; the sources do not say what comes next in his career.