'He deserves all the success' - Benoit de la Sayette seals apprentice title

Benoit de la Sayette will be crowned champion apprentice at Ascot on Saturday after it became mathematically impossible for his nearest pursuer Harry Davies to overturn the deficit on Thursday.

With Davies on 55 winners, five behind De la Sayette, heading into six rides at Brighton on Thursday, the young rider's agent Phil Shea said it would require "a miracle" for his client to become champion.

Davies cut the gap to four with his first ride at Brighton when partnering Blackbird Power to victory for King Power Racing and his boss Andrew Balding. However, Davies was unsuccessful on his next three mounts ensuring he was out of time to catch De la Sayette before the championship race concludes at the end of British Champions Day on Saturday.

De la Sayette, who returned to action in March after a drugs ban, follows in the footsteps of multiple Group 1-winning riders Jason Hart, Oisin Murphy, Tom Marquand, David Egan and Cieren Fallon to be champion apprentice in the last decade.

Last year he started the Flat season with a bang, winning the Lincoln on Haqeeqy for John and Thady Gosden, to whom he is attached, and the latter has been pleased with their young apprentice's progress since his return.

Thady Gosden said: "He's had a very good season and is an exceptionally talented rider. He's worked well and has done well this year. He deserves all the success he's having."

De la Sayette has one more chance at Chelmsford on Thursday evening – Spinaround (8.30) – to increase his tally of 61 winners before two at Haydock on Friday.

He will also be in action on British Champions Day in the Balmoral Handicap on Magical Morning for the Gosdens.

Harry Davies: unable to catch Benoit de la Sayette despite riding a winner at Brighton on ThursdayCredit: Alan Crowhurst (Getty Images)

Davies will also be in action in the Balmoral on Perotto before a stint abroad. Shea said: "He’s not riding tomorrow and will stop riding after the Balmoral Handicap at Ascot on Saturday to save his 3lb claim. He’s then off to Bahrain for a month and then to Dubai, where he'll spend six weeks with Charlie Appleby.

"In a normal year 55 winners would be enough to win it. We knew we were taking on the [John and Thady] Gosden team with their ammunition, but fair play to Benoit.

"Harry’s only 17 and has 29 winners left on his claim, so we may go for it again next year, but we need to sit down with Andrew Balding in the new year."

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