Murtagh is top Flat jockey
Friday, 27 November 2009 19:36Johnny Murtagh has been crowned Ireland's champion Flat jockey.
Murtagh was receiving the accolade for the fourth time in his career - despite being banned on the final night of the season.
Although Ballydoyle's first-choice rider was not in action, nearest pursuer Pat Smullen was unable to make up the five-winner deficit from a book of seven rides at Dundalk on Friday evening.
Smullen, the 2007 and 2008 champion, knew his fate after striking out in the first two races, as Funatfuntasia was declared a non-runner in the Rostrevor Race.
Murtagh, who had previously won the title in 1995, 1996 and 1998, finished the campaign with 93 winners.
The jockey has enjoyed a fine season, having secured a number of distinguished triumphs in Ireland.
Fame And Glory's Irish Derby success spearheaded another Irish Classic-winning haul for Murtagh, who also bagged the Irish Guineas double with Mastercraftsman and Again.
The 39-year-old also won the Phoenix Stakes with Alfred Nobel, while St Nicholas Abbey claimed the Beresford Stakes.
Aidan O'Brien, responsible for the bulk of Murtagh's key big-race victories, again scooped the Irish trainers' championship.
O'Brien was securing the award for the 15th time as he cosily topped the tally of Dermot Weld - both numerically and in terms of prize-money.
Rising star Gary Carroll, who won the Ebor at York aboard Sesenta, was the runaway winner of the Irish apprentice jockeys' title.
Derrick Smith, a member of the powerful Coolmore triumvirate, came out on top in the owners' championship.
