Royal Ascot is always the primary focus for Oisin Murphy

The hectic nature of the racing calendar always brings plenty for Oisin Murphy to be thinking about, whether that be staying ahead of his challengers in the race to be champion jockey or his budding association with Constitution Hill. But it is Royal Ascot that is never far from his mind.

The 30-year-old has built up an exceptional association with the Royal meeting and after taking his tally at the marquee event to 20 with a five-timer 12 months ago, he has been contemplating the make-up of this year’s book of rides from even the darkest days in the depths of winter.

“It’s the most important week of the year, but I relish it and I’ve found I can get in a good zone there,” Murphy told the Press Association.

“You are always thinking about the meeting, even in the winter. I never really have horses to look forward to in the Oaks and the Derby and for me it always seems to ramp up straight after the Guineas. That is when I’m really starting to focus on Ascot.

“There is always a lot of pressure and in some races you have horses to choose from and you are always thinking about it.

“I’m always under a lot of pressure to get a winner in the first couple of days and once you get one it just eases you in. But I’m also under the realisation that it’s possible to draw a blank no matter how good your book of rides and chances.”

Murphy’s five winners in 2025 all came in the handicaps, but among the clutch of top trainers that call upon his services is George Scott, a trainer igniting Gold Cup dreams for the Irishman, desperate to experience victory in one of the week’s showpiece events.

“The standout ride for me would be Caballo De Mar in the Gold Cup,” said Murphy, who partnered the ever-improving stayer to Group One glory in France last month.

“It’s been his target since Dubai and he ran a great race at Ascot in the Sagaro and did it really well in France.

“He’s won over the distance before and it really shows him to good effect. He’s improved so much in the last 12 months, he’s not bred to go those distances yet he gets them very well so his team need a lot of credit.

“I remember Yeats winning the Gold Cup so many times and in more recent years Stradivarius and it’s a race of course I would love to win.”

Murphy’s quintet of winners last season was bettered only by Ryan Moore’s seven in the leading rider standings.

“Last year I was lucky and I didn’t leave any behind me,” explained the Killarney native. “I was never stuck three-wide and got all the clear runs when I needed them, but I’ve got numerous horses beaten in the past so you have to be aware there is a lot that can go wrong.”

He went on: “It wasn’t even just Ascot. May was an incredible month for me last year and I won the Lockinge which was great so I was in form heading into the meeting.

“This year I haven’t been flying and I’d like to have had more winners than I have done. I may still be high up in the jockeys’ table, but I have higher standards and I need to be riding at a higher strike-rate and I feel I’ve been beaten on too many favourites which is not something I enjoy happening.”

While Murphy is determined to make his mark at the meeting, one of the most enviable rides of the whole week belongs to his weighing-room colleague Billy Loughnane, a man bookmakers feel is most likely to snatch away his champion jockey title.

Loughnane will take centre stage aboard Bow Echo riding the crest of the wave following his maiden Classic success in the 2000 Guineas and while Murphy retains the thirst to top the seasonal riding standings for a sixth time, he accepts it is a forgone conclusion the 20-year-old will one day take his crown.

“I want to retain my championship and I was concerned last year I wouldn’t be able to win it and this year again there are plenty of guys riding well,” continued Murphy.

“Winning a Classic will bring Billy confidence and he’s dedicated so it will only be a matter of time I think before he is champion.

“I know with other sportspeople envy often drives them forward, but I’m happy to see his success. I’m getting older and I think it’s great to see, but while I have the rides and horses I do at my disposal I will be trying my best to keep hold of the jockeys’ title.”

Although he will have the pressures of fighting for the title to keep the adrenaline flowing in the post-Ascot lull, the void could be somewhat filled with the excitement of Constitution Hill.

Murphy was the ‘chosen one’ to partner Nicky Henderson’s former Champion Hurdle hero in his awe-inspiring all-weather debut under the Southwell floodlights and while currently on a summer break, the jockey is under no doubt his audacious switch to the level can continue garnering the headlines.

“I think it was the best thing for the horse to go off for a break and I would really look forward to him in the autumn,” said the jockey, who missed out on the second of Constitution Hill’s victories at Kempton through suspension.

“I just felt on his home work on soft ground he really worked like a top horse and hopefully he will meet those conditions.

“He is so popular and even outside of the racing bubble and in the wider world it’s extraordinary when I see showjumping people who don’t watch much racing other than Royal Ascot and the Grand National, they always want to ask about Constitution Hill.”