Counselling a huge help - champion jockey Murphy

Oisin Murphy says counselling has helped him greatly, as he prepares to be confirmed champion jockey again.

The 29-year-old will lift the trophy at British Champions Day at Ascot on Saturday for the fourth time, and the first since returning from a 14-month suspension in March 2023.

Murphy was banned for breaches of Covid-19 rules and for twice failing racecourse breath tests for alcohol.

"Just this morning I had counselling and I have that twice a week - it's been going on since October 2021," he said.

"That is definitely a huge help and important to me."

He has spoken about having to steer clear of alcohol, telling the BBC in 2022 he drank so much he had blackouts and feared it could end his racing career.

Murphy said the extra scrutiny on him after his return "is to be expected", and in August he was forced to disclose he had haemorrhoids which led to a hospital visit,, external after speculation surrounded him missing a racecourse breath test. Officials accepted the explanation.

Murphy said his time away from racing helped him learn how to relax during stressful periods.

"When things have got stressful this year, like a few days of not winning races, I've been able to use that time away from the saddle as perspective to realise that I'm very lucky that I'm healthy and back riding at a high level," he said.

"It's not the end of the world if I go a few days without being successful."

The Irish rider said he has not decided whether to go all out for a fifth title next year.

"I haven't really looked past this year, to be honest. I want to weigh all that up and what I want to achieve," he said.

He will pick up the trophy at Britain's richest race day, which has a total of £4m in prize money on offer, with his rides including Tamfana in the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes.

Conditions are likely to be testing after rain in the build-up, with three races switched to the inner track from the round course and the going described as soft.

Qipco British Champions Day highlights

Sprint: Montassib bids to follow up his Sprint Cup success at Haydock for William Haggas while July Cup winner Mill Stream, trained by Jane Chapple-Hyam, is another seeking a big sprint double. The 2022 and 2023 winners Kinross and Art Power go again.

Fillies and Mares: Trainer Andrew Balding hopes Kalpana can build on her two recent impressive successes. Sir Mark Prescott's Tiffany is among the other contenders.

Long Distance Cup: Kyprios will seek a ninth Group One win for trainer Aidan O'Brien. The horse, who has come back to form after a life-threatening injury, has won more top-level races than any other Irish-trained horse after victory at Longchamp last month.

Queen Elizabeth II Stakes: Charyn runs for the final time in Britain and seeks another course victory for Roger Varian after his Royal Ascot triumph. Prague, trained by former airline pilot Dylan Cunha, has been added as a supplementary entry at a cost of £70,000. The winner earns £650,000.

Champion Stakes: Economics bids for a Champion Stakes double after winning the Irish version last month under Tom Marquand for Haggas. Rivals include French challenger Calandangan, a runaway victor at the Royal meeting before finishing second to Derby winner City of Troy at York