Johnny Murtagh has one hand on the prize for the Jockeys’ Championship having moved four winners clear of Pat Smullen (78-74) with just 24 races for the left in the season, when steering Katherine Lee (9/2f) to win the [email protected] Handicap at Dundalk this evening.

Katherine Lee needed all of Murtagh’s strength inside the final furlong to eventually hold Tarsille and winning trainer Mick Halford later said “Johnny gave her a brilliant ride. She has been caught on the inside rail before and got a bit intimidated and that’s why Johnny came out into the centre of the track in the straight - she likes to get a bit of room.

“She battled well and likes it around here.”