Just 12 months after losing his job with Godolphin, Silvestre de Sousa has been crowned Britain's champion jockey.

His task was made easier by the retirement of last year's champion Hughes and an injury that had Ryan Moore sidelined for over two months, but De Sousa simply pulled clear of the rest.

The unassuming Brazilian said it had been a hard season and he was thrilled to come out on top at the end of it.

"It's a bit surreal really," de Sousa said.

"I tried to put the idea of winning the champion jockey title to the back of my mind while it was still in the balance, but now it feels great.

"I've always believed I had the ability to win the championship and, thanks to the owners and trainers who have supported me this season, I've proven I can."

"It's been a hard season, but it means a lot to me.

"I've been here for 10 years now. It was hard in the beginning to break in, but I've had a lot of support particularly from the Northern trainers, especially Brian Ellison, and Mr (Mark) Johnston has been great to me."

De Sousa was runner-up twice in 2010 and 2011 and was then retained by Godolphin.

He landed his first Group One trophy for Sheikh Mohammed on Hunter's Light in Italy in 2012 and his other major successes in the famous blue colours included Farhh in the Champion Stakes in 2013 and African Story in the 2014 Dubai World.

After being released by Godolphin, De Sousa went freelance and was completely unfancied at the start of the campaign and could have been backed as big as 100-1.

Big-race winners have been harder to come by this year, but he still managed to pull off the shock of the season on Arabian Queen, who took the scalp of champion three-year-old colt Golden Horn in the Juddmonte International at York in August.