Why don't the trumpets sound for De Sousa?

Often, at this misty-morning time of year, we concentrate on the race for the Flat jockeys' title, following riders as they dash feverishly around on the quest for one winner, any winner, just so long as the other fella doesn't get one.

Not this year. This year the title race is a non-event, like a Test match decided by tea on day two and the rest just polite formality. Silvestre de Sousa has already won 184 races in 2017, already his best annual score by some distance, and within the bijou confines of the artificial title period he's almost 40 clear of the field. Job done; the job's been done for weeks.

Something else we might be concentrating on at this time of year, as the nights draw in and the international season reaches a crescendo, is the 'best jockey in the world' standings. We'll be hearing a lot about this, as the Thoroughbred Racing Commentary website has developed an algorithm to ascertain the top man – at the moment it's Ryan Moore, which won't surprise anyone. Hugh Bowman, rider of Winx, is second on the list, Frankie Dettori is fourth, 'Big Money' Mike Smith fifth, Joao 'Magic Man' Moreira seventh, Christophe 'Super' Soumillon eighth. All the big (nick)names are here.