THE apprentice jockey title for 2024 remains in the balance as the flat season comes to an end on Sunday at the Curragh, where there is free admission for all, courtesy of the on-course bookmakers.

Heading into the final day, James Ryan is two winners in front of both Adam Caffrey and Wayne Hassett. All three have multiple rides on Sunday with Hassett in particular holding some strong chances.

Hassett can count three major handicap victories among his haul this term. His success at Leopardstown on the Aidan O’Brien-trained Fighter in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Petingo Handicap at Irish Champions Festival counts as his biggest win. He also enjoyed notable success on Joseph O’Brien’s Mexicali Rose in the Colm Quinn BMW Mile Handicap at the Galway Festival and on the George Scott-trained Prydwen in the Kellihers Toyota Kingdom Gold Cup at Killarney.

James Ryan notched up the biggest win of his career when partnering the Danny Murphy-trained Ostraka to take the Group 3 William Hill Mercury Stakes at Dundalk last Friday night. It was the highlight of his season that also included wins on the Adrian Murray-trained Courageous Strike in the Fitzpatrick’s Apprentice Derby at the Curragh on Irish Derby Weekend and on Jack Davison’s Artful Approach at the Galway Festival. James was also associated with Edward Lynam’s progressive sprinter Keke.

Last year’s championship runner-up Adam Caffrey shared much of his success this season with Ado McGuinness, and they won the Dubai Duty Free Irish EBF Ragusa Handicap with Star Harbour at the Curragh on Derby weekend. In all, Adam won three races on Star Harbour and he was also successful on more than one occasion during the year on horses including Apache Outlaw, Exquisite Acclaim and Sirjack Thomas.

Colin Keane is expected to make it back from the Breeders’ Cup in time to collect his sixth jockeys’ title at the Curragh.

Keane’s big winners at home came on the John Murphy-trained White Birch in the Tattersalls Gold Cup and in the Keeneland Phoenix Stakes which he won on Ger Lyons’ Babouche. Wendla and Mutasarref, two more trained by Ger Lyons, also scored for Keane at group level, as did Crystal Black, trained by his father Gerry, a handicap winner at Royal Ascot, and successful in the Group 3 Xin Gin Ballyroan Stakes at Leopardstown in August.

Billy Lee will finish runner-up in the championship for the third year running with Dylan Browne McMonagle ending the season strongly to take third place with easily his best tally. Shane Foley will take fourth place with Ryan Moore, Wayne Lordan and Ronan Whelan occupying the next three positions.

For the 27th time, Aidan O’Brien is champion trainer. In the year he surpassed the 400 Group 1-winner mark, he won three races at the highest-level at home with Ryan Moore partnering both Los Angeles and Kyprios to take the Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby and the Comer Group International Irish St Leger respectively while Wayne Lordan was in the saddle as Lake Victoria won the Moyglare Stud Stakes.

Ireland’s champion owner for 2024 is Sue Magnier, who narrowly gets the better of fellow Coolmore partners Michael Tabor and Derrick Smith to retain the title.

Visit curragh.ie to register for your free ticket.