Former Champion Jockey Oisin Murphy is having one of the best seasons of his career and a lot of his success has come in the North West at Haydock Park. Murphy has already ridden nine winners at the Lancashire venue in 2024, more than any other jockey in the sport.
The highlights at Haydock this year for Murphy include the Group Three Lester Piggott Stakes and Group Two Lancashire Oaks on board Queen Of The Pride. The filly has shone this season under the hands of the leading rider.
British Jockeys’ Championship Bid
Murphy will be hoping he lifts the Jockeys’ Championship for a fourth time on British Champions Day. He will partner Queen Of The Pride once again at Ascot and she is 33/1 in the Paddy Power horse racing betting for the British Champions Fillies & Mares.
As the race results show, Murphy’s excellent form continued at York’s Ebor Festival. He had four winners at the meeting, with Scenic, Cool Hoof Luke, See The Fire and Tropical Storm all prevailing for the 28-year-old at the Yorkshire course.
The 2019, 2020 and 2021 champion is a long way clear of his rivals in the British Jockeys’ Championship race, as documented in the latest GBR standings. He is the only rider to have recorded over 100 runners in the campaign, and with some big meetings still to come, he could extend his advantage during those fixtures.
Sprint Cup Next Chance for Major Success at Haydock
Murphy will be back in action at Haydock on Sprint Cup Day. He is set to partner Khaadem in the Group One contest for trainer Charles Hills. The pair won the Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes at Royal Ascot earlier in the season, so they have already had major success in the sprint division.
Khaadem finished fifth in the Sprint Cup in 2023 when ridden by Jamie Spencer. His last appearance came in France in the Prix Maurice de Gheest at Deauville. He had to settle for 10th place in the race won by Lazzat.
Murphy is already a two-time winner of the Sprint Cup. He first prevailed in 2018 with The Tim Man, while in 2020, Dream of Dreams gave him a second triumph.
Breeders’ Cup the Opportunity to Shine on Global Stage
The British Jockeys’ Championship will conclude on the 18th of October at Ascot, however, that is not the last major race day fixture of the year for Murphy. He will be looking forward to travelling across to the United States for the 2024 Breeders’ Cup Championship at Del Mar.
Murphy is expected to have a strong book of rides at the California-based racecourse. Khaadem, Sea The Fire, Cool Hoof Luke, Running Lion and Middle Earth are all horses he could partner if they make the trip across to North America in early November.
The British-based rider has won just one Breeders’ Cup race so far in his career. He landed the Breeders’ Cup Distaff on board Marche Lorraine in 2021. The Japanese horse caused a huge upset at odds of 50/1 at Del Mar.
When Murphy looks back on 2024, a lot of his positive memories will come from his rides at Haydock. He has shown this year that he riders the North West racecourse as good as any jockey in training today.
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