Sky's the limit: Oisin Murphy clocking up air miles as meteoric rise continues

The sky really does seem to be the limit for Oisin Murphy in a year he has his sights set on topping 200 winners and wresting the jockeys’ title away from his neighbour in the weighing room.

Murphy is literally flying high, putting Europe-hopping prime minister Theresa May to shame with the number of air miles he has clocked up as he bids to continue a meteoric rise up the ranks.

After riding a treble at Kempton on Wednesday evening Murphy dashed to Heathrow for a 10pm flight to Dubai for two rides on outsiders on Thursday’s Meydan card.

He is due back at Heathrow just before 7am on Friday, when he will head straight to Lingfield for five more rides.

"It's what I was doing last year," said Murphy, making light of his schedule that last week involved riding at Chelmsford, Meydan and Doha on consecutive days.

"I'll arrive in Dubai just before nine in the morning and will sleep before racing," added Murphy, giving a clue to his dedication to riding winners.

With a dozen domestic winners already, Murphy is into stride in his quest to join an elite band of riders to reach 200 winners in a year in Britain.

"I failed by two last year," he said. "I'm trying to improve every year so hope to get to 200 this year."

As to title talk, the softly-spoken Murphy added: "I gave it a go last year and came up short but I'll be giving it another go.

"Silvestre [de Sousa] is a tough competitor and I sit next to him every day in the weighing room. He'll be back in April so I won’t be getting any head start on him."

Last year's title was lost by 27 winners, which might seem a big gap to close, but Murphy more than matched the champion through the heat of battle in the summer. It was the first two months that decided the winner, with De Sousa nearly 40 clear going into the Eclipse at Sandown.

That Group 1 was one of nine Murphy took down in 2018, helping him to top £6 million in domestic prize-money and earning him Flat jockey of the year at the Lesters, the riders' awards night.

Gumball leads home Verdana Blue after receiving an inspired ride from Oisin MurphyCredit: Edward Whitaker

A treble from four rides on a humdrum card at Kempton on Wednesday, witnessed by few racegoers, was nothing special in itself but provided further confirmation the 23-year-old means what he says.

Murphy rode for 134 different trainers in 2018, winning for nearly 50 of them, and two of his three Wednesday winners were for ones he had not ridden for last year in Charlie McBride and Philip Hobbs.

The clinical and tactical masterclass on the Hobbs-trained Gumball that brought about Verdana Blue’s 1-3 downfall in the 1m4f novice race was particularly noteworthy.

The scene at a floodlit Kempton on Wednesday nightCredit: Edward Whitaker

Murphy was demonstrably not on the best horses for his other two wins but made both Bond Street Beau and Singing The Blues feel like they were even if it took some late persuasion.

On this evidence Murphy should have no shortage of backing in his title bid.

2019 Stobart jockeys' title

William Hill: 8-15 Silvestre De Sousa, 3 Oisin Murphy, 9 James Doyle, 14 Jim Crowley, Jason Watson, 20 bar

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