The 2025 flat campaign heads into the final furlong as September turns to October. Many headline contests remain at home and abroad, with the identities of the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe, Breeders’ Cup, and Champions Day heroes still undetermined.
Turning to the human stars: Andrew Balding and John and Thady Gosden still have an outside chance of reeling in Aidan O’Brien in the Champion Trainer race. However, Billy Loughnane and Rossa Ryan appear to face an impossible task in the Jockeys Championship.
Claiming top honours in 2019, 2020, 2021, and 2024, Oisin Murphy has rebounded from an early-season setback to deliver time and time again.
Starting Under a Cloud
This year certainly didn’t begin well for Killarney native Murphy. On April 27, only a week before the flat jockeys’ championship officially began, Murphy was involved in a drink-related road accident. Thankfully, his female passenger made a full recovery following hospital treatment, but Murphy’s reputation had suffered another blow.
Oisin Murphy speaks to Matt Chapman following his drink-driving conviction, saying it was a “nightmare for everyone involved”… pic.twitter.com/jWphDZQ2zp
— At The Races (@AtTheRaces) July 14, 2025
Later charged with drink driving and failing to take a roadside test at the incident, Murphy pled guilty, stating there was “no excuse for what I did.” The 30-year-old received a £70,000 fine and a 20-month driving ban. The British Horseracing Authority applied strict new conditions to his riding licence but stopped short of banning the jockey.
Relentless Pace from the Off
Free to continue his career in the saddle, a remorseful, refocused Murphy made the most of his opportunity.
Flying out of the starting stalls, Murphy grabbed 29 wins in May, including seven Group race victories. The highlight came when he produced Lead Artist late to claim the Group 1 Lockinge Stakes.
Murphy put early distance between himself and the rest with a 28-winner June. Once again proving that he was the man for the big occasion, five of those victories came at Royal Ascot.
Oisin Murphy’s 2025 Royal Ascot Winners
| Race | Horse | SP | Trainer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kensington Palace Stakes | Miss Information | 11/1 | Andrew Balding |
| Britannia Stakes | Arabian Story | 15/2 | Saeed bin Suroor |
| Buckingham Palace Stakes | Never So Brave | 4/1 | Andrew Balding |
| Palace Of Holyroodhouse Stakes | Adrestia | 10/1 | Simon & Ed Crisford |
| Golden Gates Stakes | Quai De Bethune | 12/1 | Andrew Balding |
Murphy swept up Group 1 events in Germany and France in July and August, while 22 domestic wins in each month ensured he remained at the top of the table. Summertime highlights included Group 1 victories aboard Aussie mare Asfoora in the Nunthorpe Stakes, and the Andrew Balding-trained Never So Brave in the City Of York Stakes.
If Billy Loughnane or Rossa Ryan were to stand a chance, they would need Murphy to take his foot off the gas in September. Instead, the reigning champ posted 32 wins – his highest monthly tally in over a year.
All Over Bar the Shouting?
The 2025 flat season officially concludes at Ascot on Saturday, 18th October. With a little over two weeks to go, Murphy is 35 wins ahead of nearest pursuer Billy Loughnane, with Rossa Ryan a further 14 wins back in third.
| Position | Jockey | Wins |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Oisin Murphy | 130 |
| 2 | Billy Loughnane | 95 |
| 3 | Rossa Ryan | 81 |
| 4 | Cieren Fallon | 80 |
| 5 | Tom Marquand | 76 |
When summing up the chances of being caught in the closing stages, Murphy stated:
“Mathematically, of course, it’s possible for a good while yet, but as they say, it’s very difficult to catch a moving target. There’s still enough time where one careless riding suspension of seven days, or a broken collarbone, certainly turns things upside down.”
In reality, even if Murphy put his feet up for the final weeks, it would take a remarkable effort from Billy Loughnane to overturn that 35-win deficit. When the curtain comes down at Ascot, the Champion Jockey title will almost certainly be bestowed upon Oisin Murphy for a fifth time. Should that come to pass, it will cap a fine campaign lit up by over 130 winners, including 27 at Listed level or above, and over £6 million in prize money.
Eleven Titles Out of Reach?
With eye-catching rides on British Champions Day, at the Breeders’ Cup and the Melbourne Cup Festivals, and aboard Byzantine Dream in the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe, Murphy has ample opportunity to end 2025 on a spectacular high.
How many times he will repeat such heroics in future campaigns remains to be seen. When considering the prospect of matching the legendary names Lester Piggott and Pat Eddery, Murphy said:
“I’m 30, so hopefully this will be my fifth, but I don’t think I’ll be getting anywhere near those record breakers. How many did Lester and Pat win? 11? I don’t think I’ll be touching them.”
He then went on to suggest the quality of the competition may stand in his way.
“These young lads ride so well. It’s not just Billy, you’ve got Rossa Ryan, Tom Marquand, David Egan, Hector Crouch, even. Cieren Fallon’s flying.”
Double figures in titles may be on the distant horizon. However, 2025 is a year to remember for Murphy, who overcame (admittedly self-inflicted) adversity to once again climb to the racing summit.
