Murphy buoyant ahead of weekend

Horse Racing
Nottingham

Jockey Oisin Murphy is convinced Roaring Lion will be able to continue his good form on Qipco British Champions Day.

The colt has found a good niche at 10 furlongs this season, having lost out in the 2000 Guineas over a mile and the Derby over a mile-and-a-half at the tail end of last season.


However, the three-year-old’s form has been exceptional this year, winning three Group Ones – the Eclipse, Juddmonte International and Irish Champion Stakes – as well as the Dante at York.


And Murphy says he is looking forward to partnering the Kitten’s Joy colt once again.


‘He’s an exceptional horse and every time I ride him I need to keep that in mind,’ said Murphy, who has had a very good season himself.


‘Horses like him are so hard to get your hands on and he will have no trouble coming back in trip.


‘If you roll back the clock to the 2000 Guineas, clearly he’s proven now that he’s a much better horse than (the winner) Saxon Warrior.

If you could run the Guineas again, at the stage he is now, I think he would win.

He’s a different horse now to what he was in May.


‘At the races he’s brilliant and very relaxed about the whole thing, but going to post you need to switch him on by giving him a proper canter, otherwise he’s not focused and he would think he’s just there for a day out.’

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