Oisin Murphy excited to ride Roaring Lion in the Juddmonte International at York next week

TOP JOCKEY Oisin Murphy is excited to get back on Roaring Lion at York next week.

John Gosden's Group 1 winner is among the favourites for the £1,000,000 Juddmonte International next Wednesday.

The colt won the Dante Stakes over the same 1m2.5f course and distance at York earlier this season and has since won the Coral-Eclipse.

He was given a racecourse gallop at Newmarket at the weekend, and his big-race rider said the son of Kitten's Joy is in top shape for his York target.

Murphy said: ";Rab (Havlin) rode him on Saturday, just in an exercise gallop, and he was really pleased.

"He said the horse is in super order.

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"He gave me a super ride in the Dante and the track seems to suit a horse like him, so hopefully he stays healthy and we go there with a chance.

"He's a big, raw horse but he was also a very good two-year-old.

"How much he's going to improve this year, we don't know.

"He's won a Group 1 now and is very exciting, I'm just lucky to get the leg up on him."

Murphy, who is the first-choice jockey for owners Qatar Racing, was also in the saddle when Lightning Spear won the Sussex Stakes at Glorious Goodwood.

David Simcock's seven-year-old had placed at Group 1 level several times before that win, and he is likely to have two more starts before a stallion career.

Murphy said: "The circumstances worked really well at Goodwood.

"It's a cliche, but he really did deserve to win a Group 1.