Oisin Murphy runners at Royal Ascot

Oisin Murphy is reigning champion jockey in Britain and one of the major riding forces heading into Royal Ascot this week.

The Irishman was crowned leading rider at Royal Ascot in 2021 and now has 20 winners at the prestigious meeting on his CV.

Last year, Murphy matched his personal best Royal Ascot tally with five winners, finishing second to Ryan Moore in the top jockey standings.

Here we're looking at some of Murphy's best hopes going into Royal Ascot 2026, before listing all of Murphy's available rides at the meeting.

Mrair – Coventry Stakes (Tuesday, 15:05)

Odds: 18/1

Murphy's Royal Ascot begins on board Mehmas colt Mrair for trainer George Scott in the Coventry Stakes, where a field of 22 are set to line up in the two-year-old Group 2 sprint.

Mrair showed promise in defeat on debut at Newmarket in May over this 6f trip and duly got his head in front at Lingfield on the first of the month when pulling away from his rivals in the style of a good colt.

Asfoora – King Charles III Stakes (Tuesday 15:40)

Odds: 9/1

Murphy and Asfoora are no strangers to Royal Ascot glory. This Australian speed machine won the King Charles III Stakes at the meeting in 2024 and finished fifth last year before she was steered to victory in the Group 1 Nunthorpe Stakes at York by Murphy.

She's been below her best in two starts at Newmarket and Haydock since returning to these shores for her third summer campaign and the mare needs to find her best stuff again now with compatriot Overpass favourite to become the latest Aussie sprinter to take his prize.

Galiyan – Queen's Vase (Wednesday, 15:05)

Odds: 9/4

Murphy's alliance with Andrew Balding has always been fruitful and they'll team up in the Queen's Vase with leading contender Galiyan.

The chestnut colt was very green on debut at Newmarket in April but soon cast that effort to one side when winning at Chester's May Festival upped to an extended 1m4½f trip. He almost certainly has scope for more progress upped in trip/class and could be a standout candidate for the champion jockey.

See The Fire – Prince of Wales's Stakes (Wednesday, 16:20)

Odds: 18/1

The day two feature race is the Prince Of Wales's Stakes and Murphy again teams up with the Balding yard, this time on See The Fire.

A Group 2 winner at York last season before finishing third in this contest, she once more comes here off the back of winning the Middleton Stakes on the Knavesmire and is 2-2 this season after her Nottingham Listed win on reappearance.

She has run some good races around Ascot in three visits without notching a victory and takes on top talent Ombudsman now.

Balantina – Coronation Stakes (Friday, 16:20)

Odds: 14/1

Murphy takes on another star in the Coronation Stakes on Friday, this time the Irish 1,000 Guineas winner Precise for Aidan O'Brien.

The champion rider meanwhile will throw his leg over Balantina in her first start since they won the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf at Del Mar in November.

The Donnacha O'Brien-trained daughter of Ten Sovereigns was third in the Albany Stakes at this meeting 12 months ago over 6f and that American success was her only go at this mile trip, ensuring connections will be hoping there is more to come in her three-year-old campaign.

Oisin Murphy's Royal Ascot rides

• Mrair – Coventry Stakes (Tuesday, 15:05)
• Asfoora – King Charles III Stakes (Tuesday, 15:40)
• Small Fry – Ascot Stakes (Tuesday, 17:00)
• Nahraan – Wolferton Stakes (Tuesday, 17:35)
• Gamrai – Copper Horse Stakes (Tuesday, 18:10)
• Shining Moment – Queen Mary Stakes (Wednesday, 14:30)
• Galiyan – Queen's Vase (Wednesday, 15:05)
• Friendly Soul – Duke of Cambridge Stakes (Wednesday, 15:40)
• See The Fire – Prince of Wales's Stakes (Wednesday, 16:20)
• Mister Winston – Royal Hunt Cup (Wednesday, 17:00)
• Zgharta – Kensington Palace Stakes (Wednesday, 17:35)
• Sale Shark – Windsor Castle Stakes (Wednesday, 18:10)
• Gliding Martha – Chesham Stakes (Thursday, 14:30)
• Believed – King George V Stakes (Thursday, 15:05)
• We're Goosers – Britannia Stakes (Thursday, 16:50)
• Oxagon – Hampton Court Stakes (Thursday, 17:35)
• Dance In The Storm – Buckingham Palace Stakes (Thursday, 18:10)
• Acclamation Star – Albany Stakes (Friday, 14:30)
• Zanthos – Commonwealth Cup (Friday, 15:05)
• Balantina – Coronation Stakes (Friday, 16:20)
• Glyfada – Sandringham Stakes (Friday, 17:00)
• May Angel – Palace of Holyroodhouse Stakes (Friday, 18:10)

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This article was written by a partner sports writer via Spotlight Sports Group. All odds displayed on this page were correct at the time of writing and are subject to withdrawal or change at any time.