Oisin Murphy Gunning For Jockeys Title with 77 Rides in 15 Days

Leading star of the weighing room Oisin Murphy is this season looking to land his first jockeys championship and is going the right way about it after picking up 77 rides in the space of just 15 days.

The 23-year-old currently is holding the top spot after picking up 20 winners from those rides and is now four clear at the top from Scottish rider Daniel Tudhope who yesterday landed his 1,000th winner in Britain.

Murphy is currently odds on to take the honours for the first time in his career and from previous interviews with the young irishman, there is nothing more he wants to complete at this stage of his ever growing time in the saddle.

(Credit Racing Post) On Monday evening the jockey landed a treble at Wolverhampton from just five rides and said: I'm getting good opportunities and I'm enjoying making the most of it.

"I've got a full-time driver and at this time of year I don't ride out too much, so I can just go racing and that's not too bad."

Murphy is a very modest character who might have thoughts of winning the title in the back of his mind but will never admit to focusing on it until he actually has it in his grasp.

He added: "I tried [to win it] last year but Silvestre [de Sousa] was too good! I'm just trying to ride as many winners as I can this year, it's far too early to think about it, if it's in your mind everyday then you'll be fried by September/October.

"I'll just focus on staying healthy, trying to get as many winners as I can and making those who give me the opportunities happy. All you can do is focus on the rides you have." 

The young rider had his best year to date n 2018 landing the first Group 1 of his career and not stopping there by adding eight more to his total to leave him at the end of the year with nine black type victories in three different countries.

As for this year he is yet to land a Group 1 but there is plenty of time left in the season to do so and if he keeps riding for the likes of John Gosden, Charlie Appleby and other top trainers like he recently has done in his 77 rides in the space to weeks he will certainly add to his respectable winning tally.

"I'm very fortunate to ride for some really good people," said Murphy. "Along with Qatar [Racing] I had some winners for Phoenix, Archie [Watson] and quite a few others. I'm just happy about riding winners for them and keeping everyone happy."

Royal Ascot is just around the corner and after Murphy has already struck twice at the Royal Meeting he is looking to add to that and with the certain rides he can pick up over the five day meeting he is more than likely to do so.

He added: "I'm looking forward to it and hope to be busy. There are still some two-year-olds to run, and it's exciting trying to find juveniles to ride and in which races. Joseph O'Brien had a two-year-old winner for Sheikh Fahad on Saturday [Air Force Jet] and I hope he'll come over."