Billy Lee rules himself out of title race but has sights set on more Ascot glory

If you stuck a tenner on each of Billy Lee's ten rides at Royal Ascot you would be £280 richer, and the rider, who sits third in the Irish Flat jockeys' table, has his sights set on more glory at the meeting this month.

Lee was successful on Settle For Bay in last year's Royal Hunt Cup and won the 2013 Britannia on Roca Tumu – subsequently sold to Hong Kong and renamed Beauty Flame – for Joanna Morgan. His team this year could include Sunday Sovereign, a single-figure price for both the Coventry and Norfolk, and the Queen Mary second favourite Ickworth, although riding arrangements for the pair have yet to be finalised.

"If everything works out I could have four or five rides for the week at Royal Ascot. It has been a very lucky place for me," said Lee.

"Sunday Sovereign was impressive at Tipperary. He will be meeting better quality horses at Royal Ascot but he couldn't have done it any easier. He clocked a good time too. The ground won't be any worry to him no matter what way it comes up. He is getting more and more professional as every day goes by.

Sunday Sovereign roars home at TipperaryCredit: Patrick McCann

"Ickworth has done nothing wrong. The ground was slow at the Curragh when she won but she will definitely appreciate quicker ground at Ascot as she is a bit on the small side. She's all heart and will hopefully run well."

Ickworth and Billy Lee bolt up in the First Flier StakesCredit: Patrick McCann

Settle For Bay will be back to defend his Royal Hunt Cup crown too and went into plenty of notebooks when fourth in a Listed race at Leopardstown on Thursday evening.

"He's on the way back. He ran well at Leopardstown and he will be in top form going back there," added Lee.

A treble at Gowran Park on Monday propelled Lee to third in the jockeys' championship and his tally has already reached 21. However, the gentleman of the weighing room has rubbished any talk of him winning the title.

Lee said: "Realistically I have no chance of winning the title. If I could finish third or fourth in the table I would be delighted. I think 55 is my best tally and my aim would be to try and surpass that this year.

"Things are going well and all the yards I'm attached to have their teams in top form. I'm delighted with the way things are going and I'm really enjoying it. I'm just riding a better quality of horse now and I am delighted to be on them. Long may it continue."

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