Turf Topics: Normal service set to resume with Murtagh the man to beat

They know their horse will be ridden by a consummate professional. It will also most certainly have been trained to perfection by the peerless Aidan O'Brien.

The odds are simple. If the horse is good enough, Murtagh will win. His record in Yorkshire speaks for itself – a host of big-race victories culminating in the commanding victory of St Nicholas Abbey, the ante-post Derby favourite, in the Racing Post Trophy.

Unlike others – Jamie Spencer and William Buick readily spring to mind –- Murtagh is unlikely to be boxed in, or leave his horse in an impossible position.

But, after a year when this great rider had to play second fiddle to the peerless, and record-breaking, Sea The Stars, Murtagh achieved some consolation when he was crowned champion jockey in Ireland for the first time in over a decade.

There were many other great days to remember, not least partnering Yeats to an unprecedented fourth Gold Cup at Royal Ascot, where he again took top riding honours – despite suspension ruling him out of the last two days.

Classic success also came his way, with the promise of more to come thanks to the unbeaten St Nicholas Abbey.

Murtagh reflected: "It was great being champion for the first time in 11 years in Ireland.

"It's been a long time and a lot of hard work. It started off at the first Curragh meeting in March and we went right up to the end of November, where we finished off in Dundalk. It was very satisfying for me.

"The main thing for me at the start of the year was to try and win as many races as I could.

"You know Ballydoyle will be very on target for the big races and meetings, but come September time when I was still in with a chance that's when I really had to start working hard and knuckle down for the last couple of months.

"My agent (Eddie Byrne) is very good. He tries to get me on the favourite or second favourite in every race. He does a great job and works very hard."

The Curragh in May proved a happy-hunting ground, with Murtagh claiming the Irish 2000 Guineas on Mastercraftsman for Aidan O'Brien and following up 24 hours later in the fillies' version on Again, running in the Coolmore colours but trained by David Wachman.

Murtagh added: "I suppose Irish Guineas weekend has to be one of my highlights of the season.

"I won the 2000 Guineas on Mastercraftsman and then I rode the 1000 Guineas on Again. It was the first time I had won the Irish 1000. That was a bit special.

"Yeats winning his fourth Gold Cup was the highlight of Royal Ascot. I was suspended for the last two days and to again come out leading rider was a great achievement, it's the best meeting of the year in England."

Rip Van Winkle carried Murtagh's hopes in a number of big races and while Sea The Stars was a stumbling block in most of them, the absence of John Oxx's superstar from the Sussex Stakes at Glorious Goodwood saw the pair bag the big one his rider had been adamant he would.

'The Rip' is set to stay in training next year and the search is already on for another Sea The Stars.

Many a good judge thinks we may have already seen him in St Nicholas Abbey, the dazzling winner of the Racing Post Trophy – one of the most reliable Derby trials.

Previous victors who have then triumphed at Epsom include Motivator, Authorized and High Chaparral.

Murtagh is in no doubt that his colt is of real substance.

He said: "St Nicholas Abbey is very exciting. Sometimes people are thinking you are talking a bit through your pocket, but I think the horse showed everyone in Doncaster what he is capable of doing.

"Having his third race he went to a Group One. The best horses in England were there and he absolutely spreadeagled a top-class field. He would be the one I am most looking forward to next year.

"We had a lot of two-year-old winners this year, we won a lot of maidens. But then they have to step up and keep improving and I suppose the one horse that made the most improvement is the one that won at Saint-Cloud, Jan Vermeer.

"I thought on the day he was a very good winner of that Group One. He is a very exciting prospect. Those two horses are very nice.

"We also have Steinbeck, who was fourth in the Dewhurst. He is by Footstepsinthesand and that was only his second run of the year.

"Overall, I think our two-year-olds are very strong this year and hopefully with progress and a good winter under their belt they can be racing in all the top races next year.

"Aidan knows how to improve those two-year-olds and we are looking forward to a very good year.

"I'm not sure which races Aidan has in mind for them. St Nicholas Abbey definitely showed a lot of speed in the Racing Post Trophy, which is over the mile. But he settles really well so I don't think there is any problem getting a mile and a half. I think he is just a very good horse.

"Mastercraftsman and Yeats retired to stud, so we will miss those two. But we have got Rip Van Winkle and Fame And Glory.

"It's hard for three-year-olds as the season starts early with the preparation for the 2000 Guineas, which was the case for 'Rip'.

"Now they are getting older, there is not the same rush. There are plenty of Group Ones, so with the older horses you can take your time.

"Rip Van Winkle never had a clear run last year, so hopefully he will improve and could be very special next year.

"Fame And Glory should be competing in all the good mile-and-a-half races."

After Sea The Stars dominated 2009, it looks like normal service will resume this year – with Johnny Murtagh, once again, the man to beat.

White Rose triumphs

Johnny Murtagh's big-race successess in Yorkshire:

Dante Stakes

2005: Motivator

Juddmonte International

2008: Duke of Marmalade

Racing Post Trophy

2000: Dilshaan

2009: St Nicholas Abbey

Doncaster Cup

2000: Enzeli

2004: Kasthari (dead heat with Millenary).

2007: Septimus

2008: Honolulu

Doncaster victory makes O'Brien's Colt Abbey the one likely to take up the challenge of emulating 2009 hero sea the stars

ST Nicholas Abbey dominates the midwinter ante-post market for the first two colts' Classics of 2010 after leaving a big impression when winning the Racing Post Trophy at Doncaster in October under Johnny Murtagh.

The Aidan O'Brien-trained colt is trading at a top-priced 7-2 for the 2000 Guineas and 5-2 for the Derby.

The turn of foot he displayed in trouncing a top-class field on Town Moor turned connections' thoughts to Newmarket in the Spring, even though Epsom had appeared a more obvious target up to that point.

In fact, it may yet turn out that the Derby's mile-and-a-half will suit him best, and at the 12-1 available his stable companion Steinbeck is worth getting involved with for the Guineas.

Inevitably, St Nicholas Abbey and Murtagh will draw comparisions with Sea The Stars, the hero of 2009 who became an immortal under Irish riding legend Mick Kinane.

Are they justified? Only if he goes through 2010 unbeaten – and wins at least six Group One races and the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe.

CONTROVERSIAL as ever, TV betting guru John McCririck says Kauto Star's historic fourth successive victory in the King George VI Chase on Boxing Day will rival any accomplishments that might – or might not –- be achieved by England's footballers in the World Cup.

"One thing I'll never forget was the noise made by the 22,000 people at Kempton," said McCririck, who believes that jump racing's superstar deserves to be compared favourably to Arkle, the legendary Irish horse of the 1960s.

"It could not have been louder had Rooney scored the winning goal for England in the World Cup final. It was spine-chillingly fantastic."

TOP Yorkshire jockey Dougie Costello hopes to resume racing riding next month. The Malton-based rider has been sidelined since damaging ligaments in his knee when he fell at Wetherby earlier this month.

With 23 winners already this season, leaving him well-placed to achieve a personal best, Costello is fit enough to undergo daily physio sessions at Middlesbrough's James Cook Hospital.

"Monday was the first time I got out of bed and put my foot to the floor without really thinking about my leg," said Costello. The only benefit, he says, is that the cancelled fixtures means that he has not missed out on too many winners.

PAUL Nicholls has reiterated that Lexus Chase winner What A Friend is only likely to run in the Cheltenham Gold Cup if something untoward happens to stablemates Kauto Star and Denman.

Owned by Ged Mason and Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson, the youngster is more likely to head to Aintree and Punchestown in the spring.

What A Friend was second to Denman, in receipt of 22lb, in the Hennessy Gold Cup on his only other start this season.

"He'll have a Gold Cup entry, just in case anything happens, but if Denman and Kauto run I suspect I'll have a chat with Ged and Sir Alex and we'll aim for Aintree," said Nicholls.

COOLDINE, Ireland's great chasing hope, is to be given time to recover from the slight problem that saw him run under-par in the Lexus Chase at Leopardstown.

Last season's RSA Chase winner was found to be coughing after being pulled up in the big race, won by What A Friend, on Tuesday. However, trainer Willie Mullins believes it is just a "hiccup" and should not prevent him lining up in the totesport Cheltenham Gold Cup in March.

"He gave a cough. I think he has a little sore throat, so we will give him time to get over that," said the County Carlow handler.

"Hopefully he will be okay for Cheltenham. It's only a hiccup I think."

Cooldine is a top-priced 20-1 for the Gold Cup.