Champion jockey Oisin Murphy to break hectic schedule to star in Christmas showjumping extravaganza

Oisin Murphy’s feet have barely touched the ground since he clinched his fourth British Flat jockeys’ championship in October.

Over the last ten days he has ridden in Canada, France, Bahrain and was back home to sweep the feature prizes at Newcastle on Saturday on his only two mounts.

There are more international destinations on his travel schedule for the rest of the year before he is due to make his debut in the annual Markel Jockeys Jumping class in aid of the Injured Jockeys Fund during the London International Horse Show on December 20.

Two teams of five jockeys, who will also include Sir AP McCoy, Harry Cobden, Harry Skelton, Jim Crowley, Saffie Osborne and Joanna Mason, will scrap it out over the specially set course at the London ExCel arena.

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Murphy has showjumped since childhood and aced the course when he and former reality star Chris Hughes, the show's ambassador, were given a lesson by top equestrian William Funnell on Monday.

“I’ve never been asked to take part before, but there is going to be an incredible atmosphere in front of 80,000 people and it’s going to be for a great cause,” Murphy told Racing.

“I’d like to just ride well and hopefully it will get the crowd going a bit because obviously there will be a few hairy moments for us. We are not used to showjumping regularly on horses we don’t know. It will be a good spectacle.”

Murphy, 29, has jumped round Hickstead and took part in the Sunshine Tour in Spain.

“The last time I showjumped in an event was at Newcastle in August and the next will be on December 20 but I have never jumped in front of a crowd the size that will be at the ExCel before,” he said.

“I still buy and sell horses for showjumping. It was something we made work while I was banned to earn some money.”

Despite the Flat Turf season having come to an end, Murphy is keeping up a hectic schedule to meet his jockey commitments.

“I think have a meeting just after it so maybe I’ll have to fly at midnight after the showjumping,” he said.

“On November 30 I ride in a Group 1 in Johannesburg and then on December 8 I am in Hong Kong, then on December 11 there is a Listed race at Kempton that Eydon is going to run in. It’s full-on for me, always.”

Murphy is set to ride the Marco Botti-trained stayer Giavellotto in the Longines Hong Kong Vase and The Foxes, one of Saturday’s Newcastle winners, in the Cup, for which the horse has been supplemented.

To see London International Horse Show Ambassador Chris Hughes and Champion Jockey Oisin Murphy live in the arena for the Markel Jockeys Jumping class in aid of the Injured Jockeys Fund on Friday 20 December, visit