Oisin Murphy crowned Flat Jockey of the Year at the Lesters

QEII winner Roaring Lion enjoyed a wondrous season with his partner Oisin Murphy

Oisin Murphy had a stellar year headlined by his association with Roaring LionCredit: Charlie Crowhurst (Getty Images)

Oisin Murphy's already stellar year ended on another high in London on Saturday evening when he was crowned Flat Jockey of the Year at the Stobart Lesters.

Murphy's award was among nine that were presented at the prestigious annual event which this year was staged at the Park Plaza at Westminster Bridge.

Already the recipient of the Stobart Leading Rider for the jockey with the most winners in a calendar year, Qatar Racing's retained jockey was recognised by his colleagues despite finishing second to last year's winner Silvestre de Sousa in the domestic jockeys title.

Murphy, who rode 198 winners domestically in 2018 but over 200 when overseas wins are added in, registered an impressive nine at Group 1 level.

Century Dream (centre) finishes third to Roaring Lion at Ascot

Oisin Murphy crowned an excellent year with victory on Roaring Lion (grey) in the QEII Stakes at AscotCredit: Mark Cranham

Richard Johnson received the Stobart Jump Jockey of the Year award for the third successive year after taking his third jump jockeys title in a row.

The youngest of the nominees and champion conditional jockey James Bowen won not only his first Lester when he was awarded the Racing Excellence Conditional Jockey of the Year, but quickly followed it up when presented with the At The Races Jump Ride of the Year award for his ride on Raz de Maree in the Coral Welsh National in January, an award voted for by At The Races viewers and website users.

Back on the Flat, in only his second season as a professional, champion apprentice Jason Watson won the Weatherbys Bank Apprentice Jockey of the Year award. This capped a meteoric rise through the ranks, having started the year with just 41 rides and two winners yet going on to ride over 100 winners so far in 2018, including a maiden Group 1 success on God Given.

Nicola Currie celebrated riding out her claim and being the most successful female jockey this year with 45 wins during the Flat championship when she was presented with the Great British Racing Lady Jockey of the Year.

Racing Post readers voted for the Flat Ride of the Year which was presented to popular winner Eoin Walsh for his ride on Storm Lightning at Wolverhampton in September.

The most emotional victories came in the All Sport Insurance Flat Jockey Special Recognition and ARC Jump Jockey Special Recognition awards. Both featured an impressive shortlist of jockeys this year but the chosen winners were recently retired Jockeys George Baker and Andrew Thornton for their outstanding contributions to racing both in and out of the saddle.

Paul Struthers, chief executive of the Professional Jockeys Association, said: “It was fantastic to see our younger members dominate proceedings and the amount of young talent in the weighing room bodes well for the future of the sport."

He added: "I know everyone in the room was delighted to see George and Andrew pick up their respective Special Recognition awards. Any of the nominees would have been worthy winners but I doubt anyone would have begrudged the result. "