Ireland's Oisin Murphy set to be crowned champion jockey for fourth time

Oisin Murphy is set to be crowned champion jockey for the fourth time at Ascot on Saturday and he hopes to cap a stellar season when climbing back aboard Tamfana in the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes.

Murphy will lift the trophy for the first time since 2021 prior to racing on Qipco British Champions Day and David Menuisier’s Sun Chariot scorer is the standout in a packed book of rides in Berkshire.

Tamfana is reported to have recovered well from her Newmarket exertions and only two weeks after her maiden Group One triumph, she is ready to take on the likes of Charyn in a bid to double her top-level tally.

Murphy said: “David Menuisier has told me he couldn’t be more happy with her wellbeing. It sounds like she has bounced out of her Sun Chariot victory and I’m really looking forward to partnering her.

“She is very easy to ride and she has a good draw besides Charyn, I’m very pleased about that and she relaxes wherever you want. She handles soft ground well.

“Obviously, Charyn has been the standout miler this season, he goes on all ground conditions and doesn’t know how to run a bad race. He will be a tough nut to crack and there are a few others in there such as Metropolitan, the French horse, that warrant respect.”

Despite riding Tamfana in the majority of her appearances this season – including when winning Sandown’s Atalanta Stakes – Murphy was required to partner See The Fire for Andrew Balding when the daughter of Soldier Hollow galloped to Group One honours on the Rowley Mile.

Colin Keane was the fortunate pilot in Murphy’s absence, with the 29-year-old explaining these situations are commonplace and something riders have to accept.

He continued: “You are always going to have situations like that and the way to look at