Will McMonagle dethrone Keane as Ireland's champion jockey? The race to be crowned Ireland's champion jockey on the Flat looks like producing a real battle this season. Colin Keane, the reigning champion, has settled into his new role as retained rider for leading owners Juddmonte, but will that create the gap needed for someone to replace him? Keane has been champion six times, including the last five on the trot, but Dylan McMonagle is heaping the pressure on with just two months of the season left. In 2022, a memorable tussle ensued as Keane and Billy Lee fought down to the wire, with Keane snatching glory at the line. Keane and McMonagle have pulled clear of the likes of Chris Hayes, Wayne Lordan, Shane Foley and Lee this time around and, barring injury, the race looks to be between them. Keane's new role shakes up the jockeys' race With tallies of 100, 141 (a record), 92, 92 and 103, Keane has dominated the Irish scene in recent years. The Co Meath pilot has a steady relationship with Ger Lyons that provides plenty of winners, while he also picks up his share elsewhere. In July, Keane was announced as the retained rider for Juddmonte and set to partner their best hopes in Britain, Ireland and France. Lee has been runner-up to Keane in the title race for the last three years and reached 95 winners last season, but injuries have held him back in recent months. Keane's commitments elsewhere have meant he is missing out on some possible winners at home, riding in England on the weekends when required. McMonagle emerges as the top threat McMonagle has been expected to become a star in the saddle since he dominated on the pony racing circuit in his early teens. The Co Donegal talent is based with Joseph O'Brien and will be desperate to emulate his boss in becoming champion. You have to rewind to Johnny Murtagh 14 years ago to find someone other than Keane, the O'Brien brothers - Joseph and Donnacha - or the late Pat Smullen to have won the title. Back in July, McMonagle said of the championship: "I haven't even thought about it. I just want to keep my head down and ride as many winners as I can." Riding the crest of a wave McMonagle is now riding the crest of a wave, with a flurry of recent winners propelling him into the championship lead. At the time of writing he is six clear of Keane, 73 winners to 67, and recent weekends have seen McMonagle land a four-timer at the Curragh amid a real push for the title. Hayes, in third spot with 48 winners, isn't harbouring major title ambitions, conceding when Keane took the Juddmonte job that a jockeys' crown is probably out of his reach. "I've no chance whatsoever," he laughed when asked about his title credentials. "A lot of my dreams have come true in life, but they all won't and this is one that definitely won't." Not ready to give up the crown McMonagle's run for the finish appears to be well timed. With plenty of firepower from Joseph O'Brien and the possibility he will grab some spares from Aidan O'Brien now that Ryan Moore's season has been cut short by injury, he is going to stand a fine chance of securing his maiden title. He was as big as 7/1 in midsummer, but has now shortened dramatically to be the 1/4 favourite, with Keane trading at 5/2 to maintain his crown. McMonagle is primed, for sure, but he shouldn't expect to coast home against the best rider of his generation - and a man with history on his mind. "I'd love to beat Mick's (Kinane) record of titles in a row," Keane said in July. "I think he has six and it would be nice to beat that. When I won it the first time at Naas (in 2017) I thought I would never win it again. "Obviously we didn't know the tragedy that was going to happen to Pat (Smullen), but, growing up, if you'd have told me I would be a six-time champion jockey, I would have said there was no chance whatsoever."
