The Kerry jockey is now set to ride Constitution Hill on Friday
Oisin Murphy after winning on Royal Champion
Oisin Murphy enjoyed a hugely successful night in Saudi Arabia on Saturday, just days before he is set to partner Constitution Hill at Southwell.
The Kerry jockey, five-time champion rider in the UK, rode a double on the world’s richest race day at Riyadh, with his first victory coming on Michael Scofield (4/1) in the €840,000 Tuwaiq Cup Listed Stakes Presented By Shg for trainer Saad Aljenade.
Later on the card, Murphy steered the Karl Burke-trained Royal Champion to victory in the €2.5million Neom Turf Cup, with the 13/8 favourite coming home four-and-three-quarter lengths ahead of runner-up Facteur Cheval. The English trainer was full of praise for the jockey following the win.
He said: “It was superb. He’s a very forward-going horse, he’s quite keen at home – he’s not a runaway but we just wanted him to get in a nice rhythm behind a decent pace. Once he gets a bit of cover he just travels lovely and Oisin has pulled it off fantastically well.
“I was so confident once he was turning in in that position. He’s a horse with a turn of foot who keeps galloping and stays the trip really well. So absolutely delighted.
“He’s been accepted for Dubai (Turf), but I’ll have to speak to the guys at Darley and see what we do. It’s an obvious race for him, I think the drop back a furlong wouldn’t do him any harm. We’ll see.”
“A lot of it will be up to Sheikh Mohammed Obaid’s family. Our thoughts are with his family. We’ll hopefully keep the show on the road for a little while yet.”
Meanwhile, Murphy looks set to take the ride on Constitution Hill for Nicky Henderson in the Sbk Road To Cheltenham Novice Stakes at Southwell on Friday.
The 2023 Champion Hurdle winner is set to face rivals both from the jumps and Flat fraternity after 32 horses were entered in the race.
After watching Jonbon win his 12th Grade One in the Ascot Chase on Saturday, Henderson said: “Constitution Hill is fine and worked very nicely this morning, everyone is happy.
“He’s had a little go in the stalls and a gallop with Oisin (Murphy) and all was fine so he’s all set to go.”
However, there may be a slight concern for Henderson due to the large number of entries as only 14 horses will be permitted to run and there looks set to be a balloting process.
“I can’t work it out and everyone is trying to work out who gets in before who, but we have no idea,” said the trainer.
“There’s plenty in there and you can’t divide a £40,000 race, there’s no plan B or plan C and this has been the plan ever since Martin Cruddace and ARC (Arena Racing Company) dreamt it up – it would be bad luck for them if he was balloted out.
“I haven’t studied the entries overly carefully and I was just checking to see how many were in it.
“We can’t ask for preferential treatment and some people aren’t happy about the prize-money for this sort of race, but you just have to look at the interest it is creating and it can’t be a bad thing for racing.
“I nearly put four others in last night to try to do a Ballydoyle with some pacemakers and others to help out, but I’m glad I didn’t.”
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