The Queen will unveil a bronze life-size statue of nine-time Derby-winning jockey Lester Piggott at Epsom.

Piggott will be present for the Derby meeting on Saturday as the first of nine life-size statues of him is unveiled. The others, sculpted by Willie Newton, will be located at courses around England.

It is 65 years since Piggott claimed the first of his Derby victories on board Never Say Die in 1954. His eight further triumphs in the premier Classic came on Crepello (1957), St Paddy (1960), Sir Ivor (1968), Nijinsky (1970), Roberto (1972), Empery (1976), The Minstrel (1977) and Teenoso (1983).

Piggott also rode an Oaks winner for the Her Majesty at the 1957 Derby meeting on Carrozza.

“The Derby has always been the most important race in England. It attracts the best thoroughbreds and it has been my good fortune to win it a few times on some great horses,” Piggott said.