'Talented young hopes' - Four up and coming Flat jockeys to keep an eye on Flat turf racing has already returned to Ireland and it won’t be long before it kicks off in Britain with the Lincoln meeting at Doncaster. Many racing fans will turn their attention to the Flat in the coming weeks so now looks like a good time to pick out some jockeys to follow. You don’t need any help picking out the big names, as Ryan Moore, Colin Keane and William Buick will all be there, but there are also some talented young riders coming through. Here are some younger riders with massive potential to follow during the 2026 season. Toby Moore It’s very difficult to argue against the theory that Ryan Moore is the best Flat jockey on the planet at the moment and he’s always a cool customer on the big occasion. The fact that his teenage son is starting to come through the ranks suggests there could be a Moore dynasty. There can be no better mentor than your own father, especially when he’s the best jockey around, so Toby Moore’s stock should rise this term. He has three winners on the board already and it’ll be no surprise if that tally grows significantly this year. Jack Loughnane Another one with a family connection, Jack Loughnane is the younger brother of the leading jockey Billy Loughnane and he has joined the amateur ranks. He has only had two rides so far and is yet to land a winner but that could be set to change. If the younger Loughnane brother is half as good as his older sibling, it won’t be long before he’s up and running and riding plenty of winners. It remains to be seen if he will be taking too many rides over the course of the season but he’s definitely one to watch. Nicola Burns One of Ireland’s most promising apprentices, Nicola Burns has already earned rides for some of the sport’s biggest names and she deserves every single one of them. Burns has ridden 32 winners in Ireland already and is more than capable of reaching the 50-mark. Still claiming 5lb, that could be a big appeal for her this season, especially in competitive handicaps. Tactically adept and a natural in the saddle, she’s only going to get better and is definitely one to watch throughout the season. Jack Doughty Jack Doughty has just the six winners on the board so far this season but having ridden 65 winners in 2025, that total is likely to increase significantly this season. Trainer Tony Carroll had an amazing season last term, passing the £1,000,000 prize money mark and amassing 128 winners, many of which were ridden by Doughty. He has ridden out his claim now but the potential to establish himself remains.
