Oisin Murphy v William Buick: what Monday means in the race to be champion

Going into the weekend, William Buick trailed title rival Oisin Murphy by nine winners in the race to be crowned champion jockey.

With just six days of the championship left, that deficit is now down to six, thanks to Buick outscoring the current champion by three to one at Newmarket on Saturday and then nicking another winner back at Goodwood on Sunday.

With the two riders heading to different meetings on Monday, there is a chance for both to add significantly to their tally.

William Buick now five behind Oisin Murphy but non-runners hit title bid

Oisin Murphy

Wins 148
Rides on Monday 6
Form in last 14 daysWins: 9 Rides: 65 (14 per cent strike-rate)
Odds (before racing on Monday) 1-7 (Coral), 1-3 (Betfair)

Murphy heads to Kempton on Monday evening and Cu Chulain has been well supported to break his maiden at the second attempt in the novice event (7.30) over 1m3f.

Puerto De Vega is also an interesting runner in the 6f handicap (6.30) on his first start for Stuart Williams since moving from Johnny Murtagh in Ireland.

Beloved is Murphy's other most notable chance and will bid to build on an improved effort last time at Newbury in the 7f handicap (8.00).

The competitive nature of the card means that bookmakers rate his other three rides – Under Oath (5.30), Bellstreet Bridie (6.00) and Restitution (8.30) – as no more than each-way chances.

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William Buick

Wins 142
Rides on Monday 8
Form in last 14 daysWins: 13 Rides: 66 (20 per cent strike-rate)
Odds (before racing on Monday) 4-1 (Coral), 9-4 (Betfair)

Buick not only has two more rides than his rival on Monday but looks to have several solid chances at Wolverhampton.

Pocket The Profit bids to kick off his afternoon on a winning note (1.40) and is one of three rides to be hovering around the even-money mark.

Infrared made a promising start to his career for Martyn Meade when third over five furlongs at Sandown and is upped to six for his second racecourse appearance in the 6f novice event (4.00).

Buick's main ally Charlie Appleby runs Toromona, who makes a belated reappearance at three in the 1m½f maiden (5.10) after a gelding operation. He sets a clear form standard.

When you consider that Amalfi Bay (2.15) – Buick's least-fancied runner of the afternoon – was trading no bigger than 7-2 around lunchtime then you can see that the challenger has major chances to eat further into Murphy's lead before the champion jockey heads out at Kempton.

Jockey statistics

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Monday's free tipping:

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