Flat Jockeys Turf Championship Preview 2019 + 5/4 Champion Tip!

Becoming more and more competitive in recent years, the flat jockeys’ championship begins on 2000 Guineas Day and lasts through until the 19th of October. Silvestre De Sousa has gained the reputation of the ultimate workman in recent seasons and is looking for his fourth success in the past five years.

We’ve gone through this year’s championship and selected the main five protagonists, with many of their mounts appearing in our horse racing tips!

Silvestre De Sousa (5/4)

As previously stated, Silvestre De Sousa’s work rate in recent years has been truly staggering and he’s bidding for his fourth championship this campaign. Although De Sousa doesn’t get many of the “fan fair” rides on Group 1 horses, he’s a master horseman who gets the best out of all his mounts.

He’s a fantastic judge of pace and his new retainer, King Power Racing, have plenty of top-class ammunition for the upcoming season. If a trainer has a spare ride, De Sousa is likely to be one of the first jockeys contacted for it and he won’t let his crown slip without a fight.

Oisin Murphy (5/4)

The jockey who pushed the champion hardest last year was Oisin Murphy, whose stock continues to rise with every single ride. Retained by Qatar Racing, he enjoyed a breakout year last season with nine Group 1 successes. Best known for his partnership with Roaring Lion, he’s already started the turf season strongly and should continue that stellar form into the season proper.

He missed out last year by twenty-seven winners, but he comes into this season as the finished article and should improve his strike-rate substantially this time around.

James Doyle (14/1)

Fourth in last year’s championship, James Doyle boasted the best strike-rate of the leading riders at a very healthy 23%. Retained by the mighty Godolphin, Doyle also regularly rides for William Haggas and Hugo Palmer, owing to his immense talent. He doesn’t ride as much as the two aforementioned jockeys, however, and that is likely to hold him back in the championship fight.

Jim Crowley (40/1)

Retained by the powerful Hamdan Al Maktoum, Jim Crowley took the title in 2016 after an almighty tussle with Silvestre De Sousa. Finishing third in last year’s championship, he matched De Sousa’s strike-rate, but rode significantly less, which ultimately created an insurmountable gap.

Crowley continues to ride at the top his game and is in the top bracket in terms of the number of horses ridden per season, so it would be impossible to completely rule out of the title picture.

Joe Fanning (100/1)

Retained by Mark Johnston, Joe Fanning ended last season with a very respectable seventh place in the championship. Riding around the same amount of horses as Jim Crowley and James Doyle, his strike-rate last year held him back from making a real push at the title.

If bettering that, it wouldn’t be hugely controversial to say he would have an outside chance, but his lack of rides versus both Murphy and De Sousa should stop him from landing the prize.

Our 5/4 Tip!

Our vote goes the way of Oisin Murphy, who really impressed last year and continues to improve beyond comprehension. Murphy goes into this year’s championship as the “finished article” this time around and although De Sousa will fight tooth and nail, Murphy can improve his strike-rate sufficiently to usurp the King.