LEXINGTON, KY – Is there a more competitive weighing room in the world than that in Ireland?It surely cannot be the first time that such a question has been asked, with legendary names such as Mick Kinane, Pat Smullen and Johnny Murtagh having once banged heads on a daily basis on home soil, as well as on the international stage.Few who were lucky enough to witness it would argue that what we witnessed then was a golden era for Irish Flat jockeys, one that County Limerick native Billy Lee was thrust into at the tender age of 16 back in 2002, the year that Murtagh won his second Derby aboard High Chaparral, before Kinane partnered the same horse to register his first GI Breeders' Cup Turf victory later that season.Now, 24 years later, Lee finds himself in Lexington bidding to open his own Breeders' Cup account, with some familiar foes from back home standing in the way of the rider and his mount, Jancis (Tamayuz), when they go to post on Saturday for the GI Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf.A certain Ryan Moore, by now a regular in the Irish weighing room through his longstanding association with the Aidan O'Brien stable, will be among those in opposition aboard the four-time Group 1 winner Precise (Starspangledbanner), while the prodigy that is Dylan Browne McMonagle, Ireland's champion Flat jockey of 2025 at 22, has picked up the spare ride aboard the Ger Lyons-trained Red Letter (Frankel).Perhaps the biggest threat to Lee's hopes of a Breeders' Cup breakthrough, however, is likely to come in the shape of Juddmonte first string Blue Bolt (Blue Point) and her rider Colin Keane. It was ever thus.Lest we forget, Lee previously finished second to Keane in the Irish Flat jockeys' championship every year between 2022 and 2024, while last year he was again vying for the title when an injury sustained in July sidelined him for two months.It's little wonder that Lee cut a contended figure this Thursday morning after returning from exercise aboard Jancis, safe in the knowledge that, whatever happens on Saturday, he will finally get his hands on the prize that he has coveted for so long when he arrives at the Curragh for Sunday's season finale.At 40, Lee will be the oldest first-time winner of the Irish Flat jockeys' championship since the 42-year-old Tommy Murphy lifted the trophy in 1978. His tally for the domestic season currently stands at 98, ahead of Keane on 79, Ben Coen on 65 and Browne McMonagle on 62.“It's been a great year,” said Lee after returning Jancis to the care of her devoted groom, Megan Telford-Kelly. “It's just gone well all year and I've had a really consistent season. I never really had a lull, thank god, and I've been very lucky. I've some great trainers to ride for and I suppose I've been in the game that long that I've built up some great contacts. They've stuck by me through the years and to reward them with a jockeys' championship, with them being such a big part of it, means a lot. I'm looking forward to getting back now on Sunday to celebrate.”He added of the earlier near misses, “I didn't dwell on that. I learned from those and just tried to keep it as consistent as possible all year. I didn't try and force it, either. I just tried to ride each race on its merits, rather than looking at the whole thing. I think it's paid off in the end.”A first-time visitor to Keeneland, Lee is hopeful of a good pace for Jancis aim at, something that wasn't forthcoming when she ran on well from a poor position to be beaten just a neck and a nose in last month's GI E. P. Taylor Stakes at Woodbine. In four previous starts this season, she also won May's G2 Dahlia Stakes at Newmarket, before being beaten less than two lengths behind the aforementioned Blue Bolt when trying to concede 3lb to that filly in the G2 Duke Of Cambridge Stakes at Royal Ascot.“It looks a savage track and the whole occasion is brilliant, so I'm really looking forward to it,” Lee added of the opportunity to tackle the world's best with Willie McCreery's battle-hardened mare. “These weeks are special, you know. Royal Ascot is one and this is another. Just to be here is brilliant and to add a Breeders' Cup winner to the list would be lovely.”'It's a great achievement just to get here to ride'Another man simply glad to be here, back doing what he does best, is another Keeneland newcomer in Browne McMonagle, whose title defence was derailed when he suffered a heavy fall at Bellewstown on August 25, keeping him on the sidelines until his welcome return to the saddle at Roscommon on October 12.The 23-year-old has four booked mounts over the next two days, including defending Turf champion Ethical Diamond (Awtaad), who provided the jockey with his first Breeders' Cup winner when springing a surprise at Del Mar last year.“If we could get him placed, it was going to be great,” Browne McMonagle said of the relatively low expectations held by himself and trainer Willie Mullins heading into that $5-million contest 12 months ago. “Thankfully, when we were turning in, I gave him a squeeze and he put the race to bed very quickly.“He's a very good horse and he's been getting better with each run this season. Willie is happy with the way he's come over, so fingers crossed. I've got a good draw this year which is a big help. He's a horse that likes to take his time. If he gets the right set up and all goes well, there's no reason why he can't run well again.”Browne McMonagle, who also has a live chance aboard Folsom Blues (Blue Point) in the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf, spoke from the photographers' podium whilst watching Mikey Sheehy take GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint contender Hell Of A Spin (Naval Crown) for a morning leg stretch.Having been apprentices together at Joseph O'Brien's stable, Browne McMonagle and Sheehy remain thick as thieves, with the fortunate position that they find themselves in clearly not lost on either man.“I've known Mikey since we were very young,” Browne McMonagle added. “He's one of my best friends and it's great to see him get the opportunity to come over for Adrian Keatley. He's deserving of it and, hopefully, it all goes well for him too. We're all excited. It's a great achievement just to get here to ride – everything after that is a bonus.”Hell Of A Spin beckons for SheehyIf you wanted further evidence of the competitiveness of the Irish weighing room, then look no further than Sheehy, who made the move to Britain earlier this year after riding just one winner on home soil in 2025. Back in 2021, he rode 41 winners, with another 33 coming in 2022 when he was second to Browne McMonagle in the Irish apprentices' championship for the second consecutive year.“I was in Dubai for the winter,” the 23-year-old said of the events that led him to joining Keatley's North Yorkshire yard. “I came back and had a ride in Newcastle on all-weather finals day for Robson Aguiar. I met Adrian there and we had a chat. Two weeks later, I got the boat and moved over. It was as simple as that.“It's been brilliant and I can't thank Adrian enough. You have to take your hat off to him. He's some man to roll the dice, but he gets rewarded out of it. He's an unbelievable trainer and I've no doubt he's only going to get bigger. He's been very good to me so, hopefully, we can keep building things and progressing.”Sheehy arrived at Keeneland with 19 winners to his name in 2026, as well as a Group 1 placing when his Breeders' Cup mount, Hell Of A Spin, finished third in the Middle Park Stakes at Newmarket at odds of 33-1. Having also occupied the same position in the G2 Gimcrack Stakes and G3 Molecomb Stakes, he's a rock-solid contender but continues to be underestimated.“He's been the underdog all year, but there's no quirks or flaws to him,” said Sheehy. “He's just rock solid and he shows up every time. With a bit of luck, he'll run well. Being drawn in 11 is a bit of a task, but he's normally sharp away from the gates in the UK. Obviously, it's a different ball game over here but, if he jumps smart, we'll be aggressive from the gates and ride a race from there.“I'm just looking forward to raceday now. Every owner, trainer and jockey in the world wants to be here. To get an opportunity like this, I'm just so grateful.”'I've been looking at their backsides mostly!'Those sentiments were echoed by Coen, who is on course to finish third in the Irish Flat jockeys' championship for the second year in succession. The 25-year-old will have his first ride at this meeting when he partners the unbeaten Curracloe (Baaeed) in the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf, bidding to provide Murtagh with his breakthrough winner at this meeting as a trainer after such a long and illustrious career in the saddle.“Our filly has done nothing wrong at the racetrack so far and she's earned her spot to run here,” Coen said of Curracloe, who made it two from two when winning last month's G3 Darley Fillies Stakes at the Curragh. “She's had a canter around the track and felt good, fresh and well. She's going to have to step up on what she's been doing but, hopefully, she can.”Who are the main dangers, I hear you ask?Look no further than that formidable triumvirate of Moore, Keane and Browne McMonagle, the riders of the Group 1 winners Sun Goddess (Sioux Nation), Amusingly (No Nay Never) and Green Empress (Saxon Warrior), respectively.“I've been looking at their backsides mostly!” Coen joked of his previous encounters with Sun Goddess and Green Empress this season. “They've been very impressive and the European horses seem to be very strong in it [the Juvenile Fillies Turf] this year. It's a very, very competitive race and I'm just delighted to be here – it's where you want to be riding.”The post Billy Lee Hails “Special” Breeders’ Cup Finale to Championship-Winning Season appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.