Mkuzi to give Murtagh a lift

IRISH RACING: John Murtagh was a midweek market springer in the betting for the jockeys' championship and the support might look shrewd after today's Down Royal fixture.

Despite currently ranking only third behind Michael Kinane and Pat Smullen, and lying nine behind the leader up to yesterday, Murtagh was the only name punters wanted when Cashmans started bettting on the title race again.

Dismissed as a 7 to 1 outsider initially, Murtagh was quickly down to only 3 to 1 to add to the pair of titles he picked up in the 1990s.

He looks to have excellent chances on a number of horses today but none more so than Mkuzi in the Majesty's Plate.

The John Oxx three-year-old is joint top rated in this with Maumee but looks a much better option.

Already twice a winner in just four starts, Mkuzi has more career victories to his name already than his big rival whose sole success to date was over 16 months ago.

Mkuzi made the running in his last start in stakes class when Murtagh chose to ride Millstreet instead but in this company Mkuzi's a bet.

Murtagh is on Wednesday's gambled on winner Cepangie in the first division of the seven-furlong handicap and the in-form horse is a major contender while Little Rort comes out ahead on the figures for the claimer.

Another attractive betting proposition looks to be Sunny Afternoon in the two-year-old race where the Tommy Carmody runner looks to hold all the aces.

The form of her last run, a third to Evelyn One at Leopardstown, has been boosted by the runner-up Shizao winning subsequently; there's a huge 17lb allowance from the 96-rated Nobody Sleeps and for good measure Gordon Power takes 3lb off.

Indiana Journey took a novice chase at Downpatrick on his last start but the return to the smaller obstacles in the handicap hurdle should not stop him contending.

Mick Channon's high opinion of Zafeen was justified as the 8 to 11 favourite took the Group Two Dubai Duty Free Mill Reef Stakes at Newbury yesterday.

The speedy colt showed a good turn of foot to take up the running two furlongs out and though idling a little near the finish, was always holding the challenge of Monsieur Bond by three-quarters of a length.