Oisin Murphy has effectively sealed the 2024 Flat riders' title, set to be crowned the UK's champion jockey for the fourth time at Ascot on Saturday. However, the Irishman hinted on Thursday that the intense pressure of competing in what he described as 'the most competitive weighing room in the world' might prevent him from pursuing a fifth championship next year. Murphy has ridden 744 times during the current season, at least 100 more than any other UK rider, and boasts a 22% strike-rate—the highest among the top 20 jockeys—with 162 wins before Thursday's races, 54 ahead of second-placed Rossa Ryan.
Murphy's achievements are remarkable, and his success this season appears almost effortless. However, this championship marks his first since a 14-month suspension in December 2021, following two failed breath tests for alcohol and misleading the British Horseracing Authority about a trip abroad that breached Covid restrictions in 2020. Murphy, known for his analytical approach to racing, has also spoken openly about his struggles with alcohol addiction. He undergoes regular testing and receives counselling twice a week to manage the pressures of his profession.
Murphy acknowledged the benefits of his ongoing counselling, stating, 'Just this morning, I had counselling, and I have that twice a week, and that’s been going on since October 2021. That’s definitely a huge help, and important to me.' He reflected on his suspension, saying it provided him with a rare opportunity to relax and gain perspective. 'When things have got stressful this year and I’ve had a few days of not winning races, I’ve been able to fall back on that time away. It adds perspective to realise that I’m very lucky to be healthy and back riding at such a high level, and it’s not the end of the world if I go a few days when I haven’t been successful.'
A successful defense next year would tie Murphy with Willie Carson's record of five titles, with only Pat Eddery (11) and Kieren Fallon (six) ahead of him in the last half-century. However, Murphy's commitment to next year's championship is uncertain. 'I haven’t really looked past this year, to be honest,' he said. 'I haven’t set myself another goal of trying to regain the championship next year and I genuinely feel that because the English weighing room is so full of stars, you really have to be committed to it before the flagfall, and be very certain that it is your goal.'
Murphy sees Rossa Ryan, who recently won the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe, as a potential title contender next year and may focus on increasing his tally of Group One wins instead. 'There are many races I haven’t won,' he said. 'How far am I through my career? I don’t really know, but I don’t think I’ll be riding into my fifties, so I need to be successful while I can. There are two standouts, the Arc and the Derby, and they both are equally important to me.'
Murphy's meticulous attention to detail in race-riding has been a hallmark of his career. For instance, he noticed a dip in his performance at Sandown's round course earlier this season. 'My strike-rate on the round course at Sandown was very poor the first half of the meetings there,' he said. 'All of a sudden, the last few times I’ve been at Sandown, it just seemed to click. You could say that’s circumstance, but I also feel it comes down to confidence and trusting one’s intuition. When you can do that, and it’s something you can’t force, you give yourself a better chance of getting a good result.'
