Kevin A Murphy

The most intriguing number in Murphy's recent record is his performance on wet ground. From just 5 races on soft or muddy going, he has won once — a 20% win rate, or 1 in every 5. That is a striking contrast to his overall figures and suggests he may be the kind of jockey who thrives when conditions get tough and the field gets sorted out. It is a small sample, but it is the sort of detail that trainers and followers of the sport tend to remember.

His most regular partnership has been with trainer Declan Queally, for whom he has ridden 11 times without a win. That is a frustrating run for both sides, but the fact that the combination keeps going suggests there is belief in what Murphy can offer. At this stage of a jockey's career, getting rides and building relationships with trainers is as important as the winners themselves — the winners tend to follow when the foundations are in place.