Champion Flat jockey Oisin Murphy to make debut over hurdles on Boxing Day

Four-time champion Flat jockey Oisin Murphy will break new ground at Wincanton on Boxing Day by riding over hurdles for the first time.

Murphy, who on Sunday added more international success to his CV with victory on Santissimo in the Indian 2,000 Guineas, will partner the Neil Mulholland-trained Ike Sport in the 3m½f handicap hurdle (2.38).

He said: "Although I rode in India on Sunday, I made it to Neil Mulholland's this morning [Monday] to school over hurdles. He's got a wonderful facility and I'm very grateful that he's giving me an opportunity to ride on Thursday."

Murphy,  a nephew of Cheltenham Gold Cup and Grand National-winning rider Jim Culloty, was poised to make his jumps debut last year on Irish trainer Cian Collins' Lets Do This at Wincanton, but the fixture was abandoned.

Murphy, who was crowned World Pool Flat Jockey of the Year at the Lesters Awards on Sunday, has won once in seven starts on the Flat for Mulholland and it will be a special day for the rider as his sister Blaithin is general manager at Wincanton.

Mulholland said: "I know Oisin well and we were speaking about doing something like this. He said it's been something he's wanted to do and it's great that we can do it together.

"We wanted Oisin to ride a horse who has had a few runs and it's an ideal chance. He's ridden on the Flat for us a few times, but we wouldn't have many runners. We were talking the other day at Wincanton, where his sister is based, and I said we'd try and get something sorted."

Ike Sport, who has won four times in 19 starts, will attempt to improve on his fifth-place finish over hurdles at Sandown this month.

Mulholland added: "It's a good opportunity and Ike Sport is a great spin. He didn't take to fences, so we're going back to hurdles. He ran a decent race the last day on very soft ground at Sandown. He travelled into the home turn but just didn't get up the hill."

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