Will it be 'top-class' Billy Lee's year? Title race set for a dramatic climax

The race to become Ireland's champion Flat jockey for 2022 has reached a pivotal moment as Billy Lee, who was a 50-1 shot with Paddy Power at the start of the season, heads into the final six fixtures level with Colin Keane in what promises to be another dramatic climax to the championship.

Lee is now an even money shot to secure a first championship at the expense of the defending champion but his title hopes could hinge on the outcome of an appeal against a six-day suspension he picked up for using his whip with excessive frequency on Beleaguerment at Dundalk last Friday night.

It was the second leg of a 96-1 double which brought Lee right back into contention but as things stand the hefty punishment rules him out of the final two days of the season at Dundalk and Naas unless he is successful with an appeal that has already been lodged according to Niall Cronin, the IHRB's communications manager. No date for the hearing has been finalised, and the outcome of the title race could yet depend on it.