Murphy excited by Dragon Symbol's chance in Flying Five

Oisin Murphy is on course to be crowned champion jockey again in Britain and is looking forward to competing on Irish Champions Weekend when he’s due to be in action at the Curragh on Sunday.

The Killarney native reflected on his big win in the 2018 Irish Champion Stakes, and on the early days of his career, in conversation with journalist Dave Keena.

“Roaring Lion’s win in the Irish Champion Stakes was one of my biggest victories.

“Leopardstown is a special place. When the sun’s shining and it’s full of people it’s incredible.

“The Qipco Irish Champion Stakes has a massive history. I grew up watching Galileo and Fantastic Light in that incredible tussle and, in recent years, some real champions have won the race. Almanzor coming from last is one that stands out for me.

“It really was a dream come true to win it, my family was there and it was a very special day.

"It was my first Group One winner in Ireland and on the same day I had my first ever winner in Ireland and that was for Willie Mullins and Rich Ricci, so to ride two winners on a big day like that is a massive confidence boost for any young jockey and they’re the moments you want to treasure.

On his decision to move to England as a teenager, Murphy added: "I had been working at Tommy Stack’s and Aidan O’Brien’s and they had their own apprentices. I wasn’t ready to get my licence at that time anyway, I needed a couple of more months of experience riding work before I could race ride.

“When my uncle Jim (Culloty) had a conversation with Andrew Balding, he said that he had ten apprentices but a lot of handicappers that we could ride and that he would give me a chance when I was ready, so that’s how it (the move to England) materialised.

“When you start out as an apprentice you want your first winner and then you want to try and be champion apprentice. At this stage of my career I’d like to win a lot more of the big races, that’s why you get up in the morning and ride out, trying to look for future stars, and they’re hard to find.

“From an unselfish point of view I think the one-meeting rule that has been in operation this year is good because it gives lots of guys chances, more opportunities have arisen for guys.

“Where it’s slightly frustrating is if Andrew Balding or Saeed bin Suroor or Qatar Racing have a runner, particularly something first time out in a maiden, at an evening meeting and I can get there without breaking any laws like speeding, and so on, you’d like to be able to ride that horse. That’s where it can be a bit frustrating but it is what it is.

Murphy is set to ride the Archie Watson-trained Dragon Symbol in the Group 1 Derrinstown Stud Flying Five Stakes at the Curragh on Sunday.

The 3-year-old son of Cable Bay was first past the post in the Commonwealth Cup at Royal Ascot only to lose the race in the stewards’ room, before going on to be runner-up in the July Cup and more recently third in the Nunthorpe Stakes at York.

“We’ve been looking forward to this race since the July Cup. We took in the Nunthorpe, I wanted to give it a go and put the gun to his head from the get-go.

“Obviously it was quite fast ground and Winter Power got her conditions, fast ground on a very fast track, and she was too good but he ran straight and true and he galloped right through the line.

“He actually wouldn’t pull up after the race so a stiff five at the Curragh should be right up his street.

“I am kind of pleased we didn’t run him at Haydock. The ground was lightning fast up there. He’s fine on fast ground but there are only so many races horses can have on a firm surface.

“I think at the Curragh, even when it gets quick there, at least the ground meets you. It’s slightly uphill on that sprint track, certainly towards the finish, and I think that will play to his strengths.

“It would be brilliant for racing if he won. The Japanese have long been supporters of Irish thoroughbred racing, from buying mares to bring to Japan and sending mares back, particularly to Coolmore, to cover them, and the results have been outstanding.

“He’s Japanese-owned and I know there’ll be a lot of Japanese interest, so if he won it would be huge for me personally but also for them as a whole.

“It’s a nice thrill to have the crowds back. It’s a great buzz to have people around and an atmosphere being created. I missed it while it was away and I’m thrilled that Irish Champions Weekend has got the go-ahead to have increased attendances.”