Champion Jockey blog | Oisin Murphy: Goodwood chances

SATURDAY RIDES – GOODWOOD

1.15 – Crazy Luck

Rod Millman is very good at placing his horses and this filly looks like she’s in the right race so hopefully she’ll be bang there. I won on her at Salisbury in a maiden last time out and she was impressive that day.

2.25 – Battered

I’m delighted to get on him in what looks a competitive handicap. He’s an uncomplicated horse and has come a few pounds down the weights, which helps, and looking at his old form he’s off a mark he can win off. He won’t mind any rain, either.

3.35 – Benbatl (Non runner)

Hopefully it doesn’t rain too much for this fellow, though, ahead of the Celebration Mile. The surface doesn’t matter to him unless it’s really soft, as he’s won on everything else, but I’m thrilled to get back on him as he’s a real champion.

He’s done it on turf, dirt, firm, good ground and he’s got a great temperament. He’s the sort of horse that makes it all worthwhile. I’ve sat on him recently and he’s well and fresh and ready to go, Saeed [Bin Suroor] is really happy with him. Hopefully he can show his best form.

4.10 – Seinesational

He won easily the other day at Sandown and comes here under a 5lb penalty. It’s great to get on him while he’s in good form and he’s run well at Goodwood before. I have a pretty good record for William Knight, too, so hopefully that can continue.

4.45 – Fantasy Believer

He looks like he’s off a mark he can win off and he’s a very straightforward horse, he likes to go off and do his own thing, so let’s see what happens. He’s been freshened up since last running at Doncaster in June.

5.15 – Sweet Pursuit

Another one for Rod Millman and he usually only puts me on horses that have a chance. I’ve ridden this mare a few times before and she likes Goodwood, while she’s come down the weights a bit, too, so she’ll have a squeak.

Frustration over seven-day ban

The suspension I got at Ayr on Monday has left me with a feeling of frustration and disappointment.

I’m sure you’ve all seen what happened on Tiritomba now and from my point of view I didn’t even know I’d caused any interference.

I pulled the bit through the horse’s mouth and it’s snapped, which we’ve got photographic evidence of, and I don’t ride with wing mirrors.

Obviously it was accidental, the BHA don’t see it like that and it’s very upsetting. I didn’t go all the way to Ayr to ride a 1/5 shot to get suspended, I would've won if I’d gone all the way around the houses.

I try and ride within the rules and missing the St Leger Festival is a massive blow, I love riding at Doncaster and I can’t now so it was a costly trip north.

I've decided not to appeal it. I don’t want to waste anyone else’s time or my own time by sitting there on a Zoom call for two and a half hours. Although it is very tough to take, I’ve just got to accept it.

Yarmouth treble

I felt a bit of pressure going into Yarmouth on Tuesday on the back of what happened on Monday, so it was fantastic to ride a treble there aboard Coco Bear, Martineo and Warren Rose.

On paper I had good chances, but if I came away with one winner I’d have been happy, but I just gritted my teeth and did my best and thankfully three of them came in.

Coltrane goes for the Ces

Coltrane gave me a great feel in the Sky Bet Melrose Stakes and it was well worth doing a low weight for him.

He’s improving, he’s not ground dependent and it’s a positive step from Andrew [Balding] to freshen him up and go straight to the Cesarewitch now. He’s a high-class animal.

Alcohol Free has Salisbury mission

Alcohol Free really impressed me at Newbury when winning on debut a couple of weeks ago and she goes for the Group 3 Dick Poole Stakes at Salisbury next Thursday (September 3).

I saw the daughter of No Nay Never at Andrew’s on Thursday morning and she looks great, I have a really high opinion of her, she’s got all the attributes to do very well.

Delighted Cieren is joining the team

I’m thrilled that Cieren Fallon has been appointed second jockey to me at Qatar Racing.

Sheikh Fahad suggested it to me a couple of weeks ago and we are the ultimate team, we speak about everything, and I think Cieren’s going to be one of the best riders in Europe.

He’s a good chap and a fine horseman and he’ll have plenty of opportunities given the current restrictions.

More from Oisin Murphy

• York Ebor Festival: Days 3 & 4
• York Ebor Festival: Days 1 & 2
• Column 22: Big guns primed
• Column 21: Title tussle
• Goodwood Festival: Days 3, 4 & 5
• Goodwood Festival: Days 1 & 2
• Column 18: King George weekend
• Column 17: Mount Rushmore
• Column 16: Major Threat
• Column 15: Highest ambition
• Column 14: D-Day for Kameko
• Column 13: Awesome chance
• Royal Ascot: Day five rides
• Royal Ascot: Day four rides
• Royal Ascot: Day three rides
• Royal Ascot: Day two rides
• Royal Ascot: Day one rides
• Column Seven: Kameko all class
• Column Six: A Classic weekend
• Column Five: Racing resumption
• Column Four: Sticky situations
• Column Three: Oisin Murphy's favourite horses
• Column Two: Oisin Murphy's 2020 vision
• Column One: Getting to know Oisin Murphy